Dan Bythewood spent 15 years rebuilding a V10 F1 car to race it, turning a childhood dream into a reality on real racetracks in 2025.
Chasing the Ultimate Dream: How Dan Bythewood Built His Own F1 Car to Race
For most people, owning a Formula 1 car would be the pinnacle of automotive dreams. But for Dan Bythewood, it was just the beginning. Dan spent over 15 years rebuilding a Cosworth V10-powered F1 car, not to keep as a showpiece, but to race it. Nestled in a Bedfordshire workshop, the car now rests on jacks, nearly ready for its first full throttle run.
Dan’s journey into motorsport is as unconventional as it is inspiring. Born in Rockville Centre, Long Island, in 1974, he grew up far from the world of F1. A gifted student, Dan was drawn to speed from a young age, often racing down the hills of his childhood home on a Green Machine. His mother, Alicia, recalls his relentless drive, saying he never stopped until his goals were met.
While most kids were watching cartoons, Dan became obsessed with Formula 1, particularly the rivalry between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost. His dream to race in F1 took root then, but the path seemed unreachable. Undeterred, Dan used his creativity to navigate obstacles. To get his driver’s license ahead of his peers, he convinced his parents to let him visit Florida, where the legal age was lower than in New York.
Dan’s passion for racing led him to several track days, including experiences at Laguna Seca and Skip Barber Racing School, but he knew that breaking into F1 was financially impossible without millions of dollars. So, he pivoted. In 2009, Dan seized an opportunity to buy a 2001 BAR-Honda chassis—missing its engine but still in solid shape—when Ross Brawn acquired the remnants of Honda’s F1 team. But Dan didn’t just want the car; he wanted it to race. With Brawn’s approval, he obtained CAD files and parts to meticulously recreate every detail and restore the car to its original specifications.
The rebuild didn’t stop at the chassis. Dan sourced a 3.0-litre Cosworth V10 engine and even tracked down Jenson Button’s old steering wheel. Over the course of eight years, he faced countless challenges—from sourcing hard-to-find rims to dealing with technical setbacks. But his dream was always at the forefront.
Finally, the car was ready for its first test. The Cosworth V10 roared to life at Marl-Loemühle Airfield in Germany, sending three-foot flames out of the exhausts. Despite the overwhelming noise, Dan was ecstatic, though the first test was cautious—limited to 10,000rpm. As the day progressed, the car reached 16,000rpm, and Dan couldn’t help but feel a rush of accomplishment. “There’s nothing on this planet like a Formula 1 car,” he says, describing the experience as a zen-like connection with the machine.
After a few years of delays, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Dan’s F1 dream is set to become a reality in 2025. With only a few tweaks left to the car, including correcting a fuel injector issue, Dan plans to race on actual F1 tracks. He’s already training on simulators and preparing physically to handle the immense g-forces. The invites are already coming in, and Dan is ready for the adventure of a lifetime.
For him, it’s not about the destination; it’s about the journey—a journey that started with a toy car, became a lifelong ambition, and is now about to unfold on real racetracks at speeds that would make anyone’s childhood dreams come true.