By Jason Hovet and Gergely Szakacs PRAGUE (Reuters) – Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is hitting hopes of renewed growth in central Europe’s car industry this year following the pandemic, stoking risks of sharper economic slowdowns. The conflict in Ukraine has worsened supply snags and is also pushing up prices for materials like nickel or palladium, which will put more pressure on the car sector worldwide. The surge in energy costs is also seeping into supply chains. The pain will be felt especially hard in central Europe, where the sector plays an important role and some disruptions are already…