This Praga R1’s livery was done by a legendary car designer

Even if you haven’t heard of Frank Stephenson, you’ll have heard of the cars he’s had a hand in designing. The American is responsible for the first-gen BMW Mini, the 2007 Fiat 500, the Maserati MC12, Ferrari FXX and McLaren P1/12C among others. Not a bad CV, we’re sure you’ll agree. 

And now he’s turned his attention to a livery. Czech go-kart and race car manufacturer Praga enlisted Stephenson’s help to design a livery for the car it’s entering into this year’s Britcar Endurance Championship, which starts with a race at Silverstone on 24 April. 

The blue/white/gold R1, which weighs just 634kg but has 365bhp, is the first project to emerge from the collaboration between Praga and Stephenson’s consultancy, Frank Stephenson Design. The goal was to “create a unique modern livery that demonstrates Praga’s flowing development throughout its past, present, and future”. Flowing white lines are supposed to “mimic the air’s path over the R1’s surface”, while the colour scheme is meant to reflect “the Czech Republic’s national colours and the high-class materials used in the production of the R1”. 

We’re also told the livery hints at who will drive the R1. The pairing will be announced in due course. 

Stephenson said: “I feel like the design of this livery pays tribute to all the aspects that make the R1 such a great car to drive, from its full carbon body to aerodynamics.”