It looked like a scene straight out of a movie: a red single-seater bearing a strong resemblance to a Formula 1 car. FerrariThe car was driven along the D4 Czech freeway, south-west of Prague. But this was neither an official shoot nor a framed demonstration: the race car did indeed drive through traffic, before being filmed at a service station.
The images, widely circulated on social networks, show the single-seater tucking in behind a truck before overtaking at an authorized zone. Everything suggests that this was a carefully prepared staging: shots from bridges, accompanying vehicles, multiple angles. A real production, but carried out on an open road, in defiance of the law and the safety of other road users.
A precedent already set in 2019 and 2022
This isn't the first time this mysterious "ghost driver" has been in the news. Back in 2019, a red single-seater was spotted on the same freeway. The investigation at the time was unsuccessful: the driver, wearing a helmet, was never identified. In 2022, the same thing happened again, this time with the appearance of a GP2 single-seater (the forerunner of Formula 2) equipped with a V8 engine producing over 600 hp and capable of speeds in excess of 300 km/h.
So history is repeating itself in 2025, and the Czech authorities want to avoid the case being dismissed yet again. The Středočeský kraj police have confirmed that the vehicle in question was not registered, insured or fitted with a freeway sticker. Suspicion of speeding was added to the list of offences.
Heavy penalties possible
"We will be examining any accompanying vehicles with visible plates and analyzing traffic cameras," said a police spokeswoman. Investigators are also appealing to motorists who passed the car and have dashcam images to pass them on.
But the chances of finding the driver are not so simple. As in 2019, the helmet prevents any visual identification. All that's left to do, therefore, is to retrace the track via the logistical entourage: those who accompanied this single-seater.
If identified, the driver could face serious consequences. Driving an unlicensed vehicle on a freeway in the Czech Republic carries a fine of up to €2,000 and a driving ban of between six months and a year. Lack of insurance can cost a further €800, not to mention a fine of around €200 for not having a motorway sticker.
And if speeding of more than 50 km/h over the limit is confirmed, the bill climbs even higher: up to €1,000 in fines and a 6- to 18-month licence suspension. In the event of an accident, the penalties would increase, and if the case were qualified as illegal racing, a prison sentence of up to two years (or even five years in the event of endangering others) could be imposed.
An amusing but potentially dangerous video
Behind the spectacular, it's road safety that's at stake. The Czech police are now determined to get their hands on this elusive driver, who has become something of an urban legend on the D4 freeway. But as on previous occasions, there's no guarantee that the investigation will be successful.
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