A man who became infamous in the Czech Republic for driving a Formula 1-style car at high speed on public roads has finally been arrested after six years of evading police.
The vehicle - often mistaken for a Ferrari F1 car but thought to actually be a Dallara GP2/08 - was regularly spotted on motorways since 2019. The driver, always dressed in full racing gear and a helmet, made it nearly impossible for authorities to prove his identity.
On Sunday morning, Czech police arrested a 51-year-old man at his home in the village of Buk, about 37 miles south-west of Prague. Officers moved in after receiving reports of the racing car being seen at a petrol station near Dobříš. Several patrol cars and even a helicopter were used in the operation.
Footage published by local media showed the man sitting in his car outside his garage, refusing to exit while arguing with officers and accusing them of trespassing. He was eventually taken into custody.
Police later confirmed: “Thanks to information from drivers, this morning we stopped a Formula driver in the village of Buk who was speeding along the D4 highway. The police identified the driver as a 51-year-old man and subsequently took him to the district department to provide an explanation.”
The suspect declined to answer questions during interrogation. He now faces administrative proceedings that could result in a fine of several thousand crowns and a driving ban.
His son, Lukas, criticised the police response, claiming it was disproportionate for what he called a “traffic violation.” He also argued that officers had no right to enter their property, calling the raid “unnecessary and illegal.” Lukas denied any link to the vehicle spotted speeding, though he and his father run a YouTube channel called TrackZone, where videos of the car have been posted.
Speaking to Czech outlet Idnes.cz, Lukas said: “The events have always gone without any problems. Everyone knows very well that a formula car has been running on the highway in the Czech Republic since 2019, and people will have to get used to it.”
Formula 1 cars and similar vehicles are not legal to drive on public roads as they lack licence plates, lights, indicators and other safety equipment. If found guilty, the driver could face significant penalties including a licence suspension.
The so-called “phantom driver” first rose to notoriety in 2019 when video clips of the car surfaced online. Despite multiple investigations, police were unable to charge him at the time, as his helmet concealed his face.
