A bricklayer who scooped a mega jackpot in the EuroMillions is having his first ever driving lesson in a supercar.
Darren Howard, from Stevenage, hit the lifechanging £1million win on April 17, and decided the very first thing on his new to do list was finally learning to drive in a McLaren 570GT4.
The dad‑of‑one, who has spent years relying on lifts from others, laughed as he climbed into the high-performance car for his first ever driving lesson.
It’s not just the thrill of driving the supercar, as the 43-year-old said getting a licence will give him freedom for his work and for his young son.
Mr Howard said: “It’s mad really, I love Formula One, but I can’t drive, and now my first time behind the wheel is in a supercar.
“Being surrounded by cars, like this McLaren 570GT4, a full blown race car, is not your average introduction to driving but then again, having £1M paid into your bank account isn’t exactly average either.”
“Being able to drive means everything.It means more work opportunities and being my own boss.
“But most importantly it means adventures with my boy.”
Darren Howard scooped the winnings in the Millionaire Maker game
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NATIONAL LOTTERY
Speaking about the moment he found out he had won, Mr Howard said the first person to find out was his dad.
He said: “I’m staying with mum and dad at the moment; dad walked into the kitchen at 6.30am and I greeted him with ‘how does it feel to have a millionaire son?’.
“He looked at me, laughed and then said he was furious, he’s been a regular player for years so was not pleased I’d beaten him to it!”
His dad’s fury didn’t last long as he hurried Darren into the car, before heading to make the claim in person.
Darren Howard scooped the win
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NATIONAL LOTTERY
He added: “Dad was keener than me to get to Allwyn’s [the operator of The National Lottery] offices.
“Perhaps we were a little too keen, the offices aren’t open at the weekend, so we were greeted by a couple of bemused security guards who, when we told them why this father and son duo were on their doorstep at 7am, congratulated us, and gave us the correct number to call.”
Looking ahead, Mr Howard says his priorities are family and stability.
He said: “I’m going to treat mum and dad properly because they’ve always been there for me. And I’m going to buy a home for me and my son, somewhere we can call ours forever.”
Darren Howard took the drive in the McClaren supercar
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NATIONAL LOTTERY
Mr Howard continued: “There’ll be a new work van and a few treats too. Passports are top of the list and then we’re doing Disney World Florida properly, all the bells and whistles.”
While most people learn to drive in a small hatchback, Mr Howard said wouldn’t change a thing about his first ever lesson.
He said: “First lesson in a supercar, certainly one way to celebrate becoming a millionaire!”
Mr Howard played the EuroMillions draw on Friday, April 17, 2026 and matched the UK Millionaire Maker code to win £1million.