Police in the Czech Republic have arrested the elusive driver of a Ferrari-liveried racing car that had been spotted multiple times on motorways since 2019. The 51-year-old man, who was reportedly behind the wheel of a Dallara GP2/08, was taken into custody after officers tracked the vehicle to a property in the village of Buk, about 60 kilometers southwest of Prague.
The dramatic arrest followed the latest sighting of the distinctive red car speeding along the D4 motorway on Sunday morning. Video shared on local media showed the vehicle stopping for petrol, its driver still fully clad in a racing suit and helmet.
When police surrounded his home, the suspect initially refused to exit the vehicle, insisting officers were trespassing on private property. Video footage captured him arguing with police outside his garage before he eventually relented and was escorted to a police station. Remarkably, he still wore his full racing attire during questioning, though he declined to answer investigators’ questions.
His son later told reporters that the house was encircled by dozens of police cars and even a helicopter, calling the response “disproportionate” for what he described as a “supposed traffic violation.” The family denied knowledge of any illegal driving, claiming only that they had been towing the car.
Authorities had struggled for years to confirm the identity of the so-called phantom driver, as helmeted appearances made recognition impossible. The first investigation dates back to 2019, when images and videos of the car on the motorway surfaced online. At the time, police located the vehicle’s owner, who denied ever driving it on public roads.
While widely described as a Ferrari Formula 1 car, experts clarified that the machine is in fact a Dallara GP2/08, a high-performance racing car originally built for the GP2 Series, a feeder competition for Formula One that has since been rebranded as Formula 2.
Despite the mystique surrounding the case, the driver now faces relatively straightforward charges. Police confirmed he could be fined for operating a vehicle without headlights, indicators, or license plates. He also risks having his driving licence suspended.
The bizarre case has captivated the public in the Czech Republic, with social media flooded with images and jokes about the mysterious racer who managed to outwit authorities for years. The driver’s flamboyant style, complete with racing outfit and helmet, only added to the legend.
Authorities, however, stressed that driving such a vehicle on motorways is a serious safety hazard. “Motorways are not racetracks,” one police spokesperson said. “Such behavior endangers not only the driver but everyone else on the road.”
For now, the phantom driver’s high-speed adventures appear to have come to an abrupt halt. Whether the spectacle will inspire stricter enforcement or remain a quirky footnote in Czech motoring history remains to be seen.