A revolutionary 3D-printed hypercar has achieved an unprecedented feat in automotive history, breaking five official production car lap records across California’s most prestigious racing circuits in just five consecutive days. The Czinger 21C completed this remarkable achievement whilst covering 1,000 miles of public roads between venues, demonstrating exceptional endurance alongside record-breaking performance. This ground-breaking campaign, dubbed the “Gold Rush,” showcases how advanced manufacturing technologies are reshaping the boundaries of hypercar capability.
The extraordinary accomplishment was spearheaded by Chief Engineer Ewan Baldry and a dedicated team of eight engineers who developed and built the 21C. Lukas Czinger, CEO and Founder of Czinger Vehicles, emphasised the campaign’s significance: “With the California Gold Rush campaign, we set out to redefine hypercar performance, taking into equal consideration lap records and road endurance.” The achievement establishes new benchmarks for what manufacturers can accomplish through advanced additive manufacturing and machine-designed components.
Record-Breaking Performance by Czinger’s 3D-Printed Hypercar
The 3D-printed hypercar systematically conquered five of California’s most challenging racing circuits, delivering lap times that substantially improved upon existing production car records. At Thunderhill Raceway Park, the 21C posted a time of 1:48.30, breaking the previous record by 3.39 seconds. The vehicle continued its dominance at Sonoma Raceway with a 1:35.05 lap time, besting the existing benchmark by 0.70 seconds.
WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca witnessed the 21C achieve 1:24.39, improving the previous record by 0.36 seconds, whilst Willow Springs Raceway saw an even more substantial improvement with a 1:19.73 lap time that bettered the existing record by 1.35 seconds. The most dramatic improvement came at The Thermal Club, where the hypercar’s 2:03.17 lap time demolished the previous record by an astounding 10.33 seconds.
In total, the 21C shaved 16.26 seconds from the combined benchmark records across all five venues. Each lap time underwent rigorous authentication by RaceLogic using its VBox GNSS system, with third-party witnesses confirming the validity of every record. This systematic approach ensures the achievements meet the highest standards of motorsport verification.
Advanced Manufacturing Meets Extreme Performance
The Czinger 21C represents a paradigm shift in hypercar construction, utilising 3D-printed components and machine-designed elements to achieve remarkable performance specifications. The vehicle’s powertrain combines an in-house twin-turbocharged 2.9-litre V8 engine with a 4.4-kWh battery pack, generating 1,350 horsepower in the exact configuration used during the record runs. Notably, no special modifications or tweaks were required for the campaign, demonstrating the production specification’s inherent capability.
This power output enables the 21C to achieve a top speed of 253 mph, a figure likely approached during the high-speed sections of the record-setting campaign. The hypercar’s tandem seating configuration contributes to its aerodynamic efficiency whilst showcasing the design possibilities enabled by advanced manufacturing techniques.
The vehicle’s construction philosophy centres on weight reduction, strength optimisation, and reduced manufacturing lead times compared to traditional production methods. These advantages become particularly apparent when considering the endurance aspect of the Gold Rush campaign, where the vehicle maintained peak performance across multiple demanding circuits without requiring significant maintenance or modifications.
The Gold Rush Campaign
Development driver Joel Miller piloted the 21C for every mile of the challenging campaign, bringing extensive experience with the vehicle’s characteristics to each circuit. “When the Czinger team called me and said five lap records in five days, I knew it would be intense,” Miller explained. “Taking the car straight from the street to five circuits with varying temperatures and configurations is an amazing feat – one I’ve never heard of another manufacturer being bold enough to attempt.”
The campaign’s human element has been captured in a 25-minute documentary titled “Gold Rush,” directed by Italian-born, Los Angeles-based filmmaker Luca Brinciotti. The film documents the perseverance, setbacks, and breakthroughs experienced throughout the record-setting journey, providing insight into the dedication required for such an ambitious undertaking.
The achievement underscores that manufacturers need not possess decades of racing heritage to make significant impacts in motorsport. Founded just six years ago, Czinger Vehicles has demonstrated how fresh approaches to design and manufacturing can challenge established conventions in the hypercar sector.
Lukas Czinger reflected on the broader implications of the campaign’s success: “The car, now being proven to be as good as it is, shows the true breadth of capability that we have at Czinger.” This achievement establishes credibility through demonstrable performance rather than historical reputation, marking a new approach to hypercar validation.
The Gold Rush campaign represents more than individual lap records; it demonstrates the viability of advanced manufacturing techniques in producing vehicles capable of sustained high-performance operation. The combination of 3D printing technology, machine-designed components, and systematic engineering has created a hypercar that excels in both raw speed and operational endurance.
The vehicle displayed at Monterey Car Week was the same machine that achieved these historic lap times, allowing enthusiasts to examine firsthand the technology that enabled such remarkable performance. This transparency reinforces Czinger’s confidence in their manufacturing approach and the durability of their 3D-printed components under extreme conditions.
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