Vaclav Klement and Laurin & Klement at the 1906 endurance trial

A Skoda-published story revisits Vaclav Klement’s third place at the 1906 Vienna–Graz–Vienna endurance trial and its role in early motorsport history.

According to a story published in Skoda’s news section, mid-May 1906 marked a significant moment in the early motorsport history of the brand. It was then that the name of Vaclav Klement once again appeared in the automotive press, following the participation of the Laurin & Klement co-founder in an international endurance trial organised by the Austrian Automobile Club. For the young car manufacturer from Mlada Boleslav, it represented the company’s first serious appearance in automobile competition — and one that delivered an immediate result.

The event took the form of a two-day trial over the Vienna–Graz–Vienna route, covering a total distance of 410 kilometres. Each leg measured 205 kilometres and led competitors across dusty roads, cobbled surfaces and demanding mountain terrain, including the Semmering Pass. The focus was not on outright speed, but on accuracy, endurance and consistent performance.

Laurin & Klement entered four cars at the start. The drivers included Vaclav Klement himself, engineer Karl Slevogt, the head of the company’s Vienna branch Karel Kollarz, and experienced racer Vaclav Vondrich. All four competed in two-cylinder voiturettes, lightweight touring cars that were only beginning to establish their place in European motorsport at the time.

The regulations were strict. Crews were required to maintain a prescribed average speed depending on engine configuration, with penalties imposed for every minute above or below the calculated time. Compliance was monitored by hidden checkpoints, and any repairs or modifications between stages were strictly prohibited.

The first day unfolded solidly for the Laurin & Klement team, though not without losses: Vaclav Vondrich was forced to retire after an accident. The remaining cars reached Graz while maintaining the required pace. On Sunday, conditions initially improved as overnight rain settled the dust, but the return leg soon became more challenging. Near the summit of the mountain pass, Vaclav Klement had to repair a punctured tyre caused by a nail.

At the finish in Vienna, competitors arrived soaked by rain and dirt, welcomed by large crowds and representatives of automobile clubs. Despite the delay, Vaclav Klement secured third place in the twin-cylinder voiturette category with 130 penalty points. Karl Slevogt finished sixth, while Karel Kollarz placed eighth. As noted in the Skoda publication, this result became Laurin & Klement’s first confirmed success in automobile competition.

The event fitted naturally into the brand’s broader sporting development. Just a year earlier, Vaclav Vondrich had claimed an international motorcycle victory on Laurin & Klement machinery, and the 1906 endurance trial demonstrated that this competitive spirit could be carried over to four wheels. In retrospect, such early appearances helped lay the foundations of a motorsport tradition that would later form an integral part of Skoda’s racing heritage.