Ex-Stig Ben Collins Returns To Top Gear Track In 700HP Praga Bohema Supercar
Ben Collins is more than familiar with the old Top Gear test track at Dunsfold
The former Top Gear Stig, Ben Collins, has set the fastest production pure combustion road car lap at the Dunsfold Test Track in the Praga Bohema supercar. Collins set a remarkable time of 1:09:84, narrowly missing the Aston Martin Valkyrie's time of 1:09.70. With a dry curb weight of just 2,300 lbs (1,000kg) paired with a 3.8-liter V6 twin-turbo engine producing 700 bhp and 725Nm of torque, the Bohema is an impressive feat of engineering.
In July, Collins will be involved in the handover for three customer cars at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Ben Collins, ex-Stig and Praga test driver said: 'Setting such a fast time at Dunsfold on regular road tyres was such a thrill. I knew the Bohema would be fast, but Dunsfold's tight turns and short straights are not ideal for a car that lives and breathes downforce. It shows how potent the mix of lightweight engineering, great aerodynamics, and pure combustion can be – even up against hybrid hypercars from established brands with more than 1,000 bhp. The owners taking delivery of their Bohema at Goodwood are in for the time of their lives as their new cars take to the Hill!'
From all angles the Bohema is an incredible piece of art
Praga is a Czech manufacturer that has been building vehicles for nearly 120 years. The world of supercars is a new area for the business but the Bohema's performance speaks for itself. Collins' lap time was completed on a set of road tires and he even drove to the circuit in the Bohema ahead of the track session.
Collins said: 'We probably only did half a dozen hot laps in the time available, but with VBox timing I could see my purple sectors were looking good – if I had put together the perfect lap, we would have been at the top of the list. But, the fastest ever pure-petrol road car at the first attempt is a pretty good result too. I look forward to showing the crowds at Goodwood just what the car is capable of.'
The fastest lap time at Dunsfold is held by a Renault R24 at 0:59:00
While the Bohema is road legal, it's designed to excel on the track with its racing-focused suspension and carbon ceramic brakes. The supercar can achieve 62mph from a standstill in under three seconds and produces 1,984lbs (900kg) of downforce at 155mph. Although it doesn't achieve the fastest top speed for a car of this class, the Bohema will still take your breath away when it tops out at 197mph.
Tomas Kasparek, Praga Cars Owner said: 'I was delighted to see the time Bohema achieved at Dunsfold. It confirms the top level of performance capabilities of the car and it underlines its potential. More than the impressive number on the stopwatch, this highlights the incredible effort made by the whole team – and, of course, Ben's super driving skills. I'm extremely proud.'
Ben Collins getting ready to take on Dunsfold
Following the delivery of the first production model to a customer in the Netherlands in December, Praga will take three customer cars to the Goodwood Festival of Speed this summer. The handovers will see the first US owner take delivery of their new car and include an opportunity for the three new recipients to ride up the iconic Goodwood hill climb.
Kasparek added: 'The Goodwood Festival of Speed is the best place in the world to hand over our Bohema supercars to our new clients. We've enjoyed working with our customers this spring, especially Herman van der Pavert, the owner of the first Bohema production car. As a new brand in the supercar market, every one of our customers is hugely important to us so, as we share the journey with them, we seek out ways to demonstrate our appreciation. I hope they enjoy going up the hill with Ben and that all the fans enjoy the spectacle with us.'
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