In a feat that sounds more like a movie plot than a motorsports headline, the Czinger 21C—a tandem-seating hypercar built with 3D-printed components—just drove 1,000 miles across public roads and shattered lap records at five of California’s most iconic racetracks. All in five days. No trailers. No tweaks. Just raw performance and a team with something to prove.


The campaign, dubbed “Gold Rush,” was Czinger’s tribute to the state’s legendary car scene. From Thunderhill to The Thermal Club, the 21C clocked lap times that sliced a total of 16.26 seconds off existing records. That’s not just fast—it’s disruptive. And it’s a statement from a company that didn’t exist a decade ago.

Lukas Czinger, CEO and founder, put it plainly: “We set out to redefine hypercar performance. Taking into equal consideration lap records and road endurance.” That’s a bold claim, but the numbers back it up. At Laguna Seca, the 21C posted a blistering 1:24.39, beating the previous record by 0.36 seconds. At Willow Springs, it shaved off 1.35 seconds. And at The Thermal Club? A jaw-dropping 10.33-second lead.

Behind the wheel was Joel Miller, Czinger’s longtime development driver. “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,” he said. That’s not just praise. It’s context. Most hypercars are pampered, trailered, and tuned for specific conditions. The 21C? It drove itself to each track and raced as-is.

So what makes this car tick? At its heart is a twin-turbocharged 2.9-liter V8 engine paired with a 4.4-kWh battery pack, delivering 1,350 horsepower. That’s enough to hit 253 mph—a speed few cars ever touch. But what’s truly revolutionary is how it’s built. Czinger uses 3D printing and machine-designed components to reduce weight, boost strength, and slash production time. It’s not just efficient—it’s a glimpse into the future of automotive manufacturing.

And that future isn’t reserved for legacy brands. Czinger Vehicles, founded just six years ago, is proving that innovation doesn’t require a century of heritage. It requires vision, grit, and the audacity to challenge norms. “The car, now being proven to be as good as it is, shows the true breadth of capability that we have at Czinger,” Lukas Czinger added.

The Gold Rush wasn’t just about speed—it was about storytelling. A 25-minute documentary by filmmaker Luca Brinciotti captures the human side of the campaign: the setbacks, the breakthroughs, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. It’s a reminder that behind every record is a team of engineers, designers, and dreamers pushing boundaries.

For readers, this isn’t just car news—it’s a signal. A signal that the future of performance vehicles is being shaped by startups, not just stalwarts. That 3D printing isn’t a gimmick—it’s a game-changer. And that the next generation of hypercars might be built in labs, not factories.

What to watch next? Czinger’s rise isn’t slowing down. As the brand continues to challenge industry norms, expect more record-breaking runs, more tech-forward designs, and perhaps, a redefinition of what it means to build a car in the 21st century.

Source: Czinger