Dan got into quads and buggies as soon as he could reach the bars and pedals! From the age of 12 he played around with Land Rovers and Suzukis and at 16 he started navigating for his father on off-road events. Hstarted driving on events himself in 2005 aged 20 and finished third overall in the NORC championship in his first year. The following year he won the first hill rally that he competed in, at 21 he is the youngest person to have won a hill rally.

In 2007 he won the Hill Rally championship and finished 6th overall in the B.C.C.C., including one event win at the Radnor round. He also won the National A class of Baja GB. In 2008 he finished second overall in the BCCC, a feat he repeated in 2009 driving his self-built Lofthouse Proto LD4. With the Proto LD4 now sold Dan is contesting the 2011 championship in a new car, the Lofthouse Freelander. The car is powered by an ACR 4.4 litre Jaguar V8 engine with a Drenth 6-speed sequential gearbox. The fibreglass-bodied machine has independant suspension, Fox shocks and dampers, Braid wheels, BTR differentials and EBC brakes.

Dan is co-driven by Jonny Koonja and the car is serviced by Alec Lofthouse and Colin Taylor. Dan's racing is backed by Lofthouse Motor Services of Bamber Bridge (01772 323660) who offer preparation and design services for any off-road event, EBC Brakes, ACR Developments and Drenth Motorsport Gearboxes.