Czech authorities have finally apprehended a 51-year-old motorist who spent six years racing a Formula 1-style vehicle on public highways whilst disguised in full racing attire, marking the end of one of Europe’s most bizarre traffic enforcement sagas.
The arrest occurred on Sunday morning at the driver’s residence in Buk, a village located 37 miles south-west of Prague, following a dramatic police operation involving multiple patrol cars and a helicopter. Known as the “phantom” F1 driver, the man had successfully avoided identification since 2019 by wearing a racing helmet that obscured his face during his illegal motorway runs.
His capture marks the end of a lengthy pursuit by Czech police, who had struggled to establish the driver’s identity despite numerous sightings of the distinctive red racing car on the D4 motorway between Prague and Southern Bohemia.
The Final Chase
The operation began after motorists alerted police to the racing car at a petrol station near Dobříš on Sunday morning. Lieutenant Michaela Richterová, spokesperson for the Czech Police Central Bohemian Region, confirmed that within two minutes of the initial report, another caller reported the Formula car speeding along the D4 motorway towards Příbram.
Officers mobilised multiple patrol cars and a helicopter, tracking the vehicle to the suspect’s property in Buk village within 15 minutes. Video footage captured the man sitting in his vehicle outside his garage, arguing with officers and claiming they were trespassing on his land. He initially refused to exit the racing car when confronted by authorities, insisting police had no right to request his identification on private property.
Czech Police confirmed on X: “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 suspect tested negative for both alcohol and drugs before being taken into custody for questioning at the district police department.
Six Years of Highway Racing
The racing car first appeared on Czech motorways in 2019, when initial footage emerged online showing the distinctive vehicle zigzagging between lanes on the D4 motorway. The driver became a notorious figure, with videos of his highway runs regularly going viral on social media, where users both praised his audacity and expressed concern about public safety.
Police had previously questioned a suspected driver in 2019 but could not establish his identity or pursue charges due to the concealing helmet. Despite the vehicle being repeatedly observed travelling at high speeds on Czech highways between Voznice, Dobříš, and Příbram over the past six years, with the driver consistently wearing complete racing attire including a helmet, authorities faced ongoing challenges in proving the motorist’s identity.
The suspected driver had developed a pattern of conducting his illegal runs during summer months, often along the same stretch of the D4 motorway. Despite police appeals for witnesses to share camera footage and several near-misses with patrol cars, he managed to evade capture every time until Sunday’s arrest.
Not a Ferrari, But Still Illegal
The car, whilst often characterised as a Ferrari Formula 1 vehicle due to its red livery, is actually believed to be a Dallara GP2/08 according to racing publication Auto.cz and other motorsport experts. The GP2/08 was a racing car developed by Italian manufacturer Dallara for use in the GP2 Series, a feeder series for Formula One that ran from 2008 to 2010.
The vehicle features a 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated Renault V8 engine producing approximately 600 horsepower, paired with a six-speed sequential semi-automatic transmission. Whilst it resembles and sounds similar to a Formula 1 car, it was designed for the GP2 Championship, which has since been rebranded as the FIA Formula 2 Championship.
Such vehicles are strictly prohibited on public roads as they lack registration plates, lighting, indicators and mandatory safety features. Racing cars do not meet any of the roadworthiness requirements for street-legal vehicles, making their operation on public highways both illegal and extremely dangerous.
YouTube Channel and Family Defence
The arrested man and his son, identified as Lukas, operate a YouTube channel called TrackZone featuring videos of the racing car that have garnered millions of views. The channel has capitalised on the notoriety of the “phantom” driver, posting footage of the vehicle both on tracks and, allegedly, on public roads.
Lukas criticised the scale of the police response, claiming around two dozen patrol cars were involved in what he termed an excessive reaction to a “traffic violation.” “They entered our private land and violated our rights, in my opinion it was completely unnecessary and illegal,” he told reporters.
He defended his father’s actions to Czech outlet Idnes.cz, stating: “The events have always gone without any problems. Everyone knows very well that Formula has been running on the highway in the Czech Republic since 2019 and people will have to get used to it.”
Lukas claimed the car never exceeded 200 km/h (124 mph), though this is still well above the Czech Republic’s maximum speed limit of 130 km/h (81 mph). “It always drove at a maximum of 180 to 200 km/h and did not endanger anyone. It just drove and did not make dangerous manoeuvres. Other people drive much more dangerously today,” he argued.
He also claimed the vehicle was a rare 2006 “Ferrari Dallara GPF1,” of which he said only two exist worldwide, purchased from a British racing team. However, trade magazines and experts have identified it as the more common Dallara GP2/08 model.
Legal Consequences
During police questioning, the 51-year-old declined to discuss the incident. “The driver of the car, who was stopped and identified by police officers, refused to comment on the situation when questioned,” police stated. “The police will refer the matter to administrative proceedings.”
Authorities indicated they would pursue administrative action that could result in penalties of 5,000 to 10,000 Czech crowns (£190-380) and a driving ban of six months to one year. Whilst these penalties might seem modest given the six-year duration of the offences, they represent the maximum administrative sanctions available for such traffic violations under Czech law.
The case highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement when dealing with masked drivers, as the inability to identify the person behind the wheel had prevented prosecution for years despite clear evidence of illegal activity.
Internet Fame and Public Reaction
Over the years, the “phantom F1 driver” had built a cult following online, with social media users both celebrating and condemning his motorway appearances. Videos of the racing car on public roads regularly went viral, with many expressing amazement that someone would have the audacity to drive such a vehicle on public highways.
The driver’s ability to evade police for six years had turned him into something of a folk hero among some motorsport enthusiasts, though road safety advocates consistently condemned his actions as reckless endangerment of public safety.
His son’s comment that “if you had a car like that at home, you wouldn’t just want to look at it” resonated with some car enthusiasts, though it was widely criticised as justification for illegal and dangerous behaviour.
End of the Road
The arrest brings to a close one of Europe’s most unusual traffic enforcement cases, demonstrating both the challenges of modern policing and the lengths some individuals will go to indulge their racing fantasies. The case has raised questions about highway safety, the enforcement of traffic laws, and the culture of viral fame that may have encouraged the driver to continue his illegal runs.
As the administrative proceedings move forward, the racing car that terrorised and thrilled Czech motorway users for six years will likely remain impounded, its days of illegal highway racing finally over. The phantom of the D4 motorway has been unmasked, ending a chapter that blurred the lines between motorsport enthusiasm and criminal recklessness.
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