THE mysterious driver of a phantom F1 car has finally been caught and arrested – decked out in full racing gear and helmet.
The red racing car has been spotted roaring along Czech motorways a number of times since 2019.
Footage emerged on Sunday morning showing the car breezing along the D4 motorway before stopping for petrol.
Police tracked the vehicle down to a property in the village of Buk – around 37 miles south-west of Prague.
A 51-year-old man, clad in a red racing driver’s outfit and helmet, was reportedly arrested at his home.
Local media released footage showing him arguing with officers and refusing to come out of his car.
He is heard accusing police of trespassing on private property before finally giving up and being led to a station.
There, he refused to answer any questions, local media report.
A man – identified as his son – told journalists that around two dozen police cars and a helicopter swarmed the house, calling it an extreme response “to a supposed traffic violation of ours”.
The vehicle has been described online as “a Ferrari Formula 1 car“.
However, a 2022 article on auto.cz says it is actually a Dallara GP2/08 – a racing car built by Italian manufacturer Dallara.
The car was intended for use in the GP2 Series, an open-wheel motor racing championship introduced in 2005 to replace the Formula One feeder series.
The man faces a fine for driving a car on the motorway without headlights, indicators or number plates.
His driving licence is also at risk of being suspended.
The phantom F1 driver first drew attention in 2019, when images and videos of the car appeared online – prompting cops to track down the car and question its suspected driver.
But the man denied he was behind the wheel at the time.
And since he was wearing a helmet, officers could not identify him or bring charges.
It is unclear if this is the same person police have now arrested.
Back in 2022, social media users were thoroughly amused by videos of the racing car whizzing on the motorway, with one person writing: “Be right back just going to grab some milk in the F1 car.”
“Not all heroes wear capes,” added another.
The red racing car on the D4 motorway[/caption]