Dywa F1 Project: Small Italian Independent Team
We continue our journey by bringing back the forgotten F1 projects of the past. It takes a lot of time to research these stories and put everything together, but here at CarsRave, that is what we do. We want to bring you something interesting while also collecting and preserving these fascinating pieces of motorsport history in one place. Our next stop is the Dywa F1 project, a fascinating and rather unusual attempt to make it into Formula 1.
Before DYWA became associated with ambitious F1 projects and unconventional single-seaters, its story began much closer to the workshop floor, behind the name was Italian engineer and mechanic Dydo Monguzzi, a man who combined hands-on mechanical experience with an increasingly ambitious desire to build his own racing cars.
Monguzzi began moving beyond his work as a mechanic and transporter in 1969; when he took the first serious step toward becoming a constructor, that year, he designed and built a Formula 2 car, beginning a journey that would eventually take him toward the highest level of European single seaters racing.
A few years later, Monguzzi turned his attention to Formula 5000, he started developing a Chevrolet-powered car in 1972 that eventually appeared in competition at Zolder the following year.
The project was more ambitious than a conventional Formula 5000 machine, he designed the car with the possibility of adapting it for F1, showing that his ambitions were already reaching far beyond the categories in which his machinery initially competed.
The name DYWA itself had a personal origin, it was created from initials connected to Monguzzi’s nickname and those of Walter Nebuloni, his wife’s brother, who was briefly involved with the project before leaving it.
Dywa F1 Project and its first serious project
The first serious F1 project associated with Monguzzi was the DYWA-Cosworth 08, a car conceived during an era when ground-effect aerodynamics were transforming F1, Monguzzi wanted the car to embrace the wing-car philosophy that was becoming one of the definining technical trends of F1.
The project was unveiled in 1979 at the Motor Sud event in Salerno, carrying a Cosworth engine and support from sponsor Petteruti, there was even a driver lined up for the debut, Alberto Colombo, who was expected to take the car into F1 competition, with the Belgian GP mentioned as the intended opportunity.
But the transition from an ambitious prototype to a functioning race car entry proved impossible, the planned F1 appearance never happened.
Instead of disappearing completely, the project became another chapter in his continuing effort to refine his designs and find a route onto the international racing stage.
Note: We’ve searched through multiple sources, and the year of the DYWA 008’s revelation isn’t entirely consistent — some say 1978, others 1979. We’ve gone with the most commonly cited date, but if you have more accurate information, we’d love to hear from you in the comments below or in our email: carstimefb@gmail.com
The DYWA 010 Reaches the Track
Monguzzi continued developing his ideas and eventually produced another F1 car, the Dywa 010, powered by familiar Cosworth engine, but this time, the car didn’t remain merely a presentation project.
In 1980, it reached the track at Monza for the Gran Premio Lotteria, an event connected with International Formula Aurora championship, behind the wheel was Italian driver Piercarlo Ghinzani, giving DYWA an opportunity to finally demonstrate its F1 inspired machinery in competition, but yet once again, the biggest obstacle wasn’t necessarily the car itself.
Funding proved to be the decisive problem, the sponsorship commitments that Monguzzi had been counting on failed to materialize, leaving the project without the financial foundation needed to continue, the DYWA was subsequently returned to Monguzzi’s workshop in Carnate, where it remained rather than progressing into a full F1 campaign.
For a small independent constructor, this was a familiar problem, building a racing car was one challenge, financing an entire racing program was another!
A Second Life in Formula 3000
DYWA’s story might have ended there, but the changing landscape of European single-seater racing created another opportunity.
In 1985, Formula 3000 was introduced as the replacement for Formula 2, instead of abandoning his existing car, Monguzzi saw the possibility of adapting it to the new regulations.
The DYWA was there reworked for Formula 3000 specs and began testing, reports suggest that drivers including Peo Consonni and later Guido Dacco were involved in the development work as Monguzzi attempted to turn an old Formula 2 concept into a car capable of competing under the new rules.
According to other sources, the car attracted the attention of Fulvio Ballabio, a Milanese former Formula 3 and Formula 2 driver who had ambitions of establishing his own team in Monaco, Ballabio’s plans gave the DYWA project another unexpected opportunity.
From DYWA to Montecarlo GP
The car was taken into the new project and renamed Montecarlo GP001, becoming the centerpiece of what was intended to be the Ecurie Monaco operation.
The car was presented to the press before undergoing testing at Le Luc in France, it was subsequently modified, including a change to its appearance, as the team prepared for its intended Formula 3000 debut, in 1986, the project finally arrived at Imola.
After years of design work, rebuilding, testing and financially uncertainty, the DYWA concept had reached another major international racing weekend.
So far, from what we have found, another opportunity came for DYWA with the Montecarlo GP 001, but it quickly turned into disappointment. Built around the outdated DYWA chassis, the car failed to qualify, not because of a mechanical breakdown, but because it was simply far too slow. With no place on the starting grid, the car’s competitive career effectively ended after that disastrous weekend at Imola.
RELATED CONTENT: If you liked this piece, check out our article on the DART F1 team — another story of ambition that never reached the grid.
The DYWA Story
The DYWA story isn’t remembred because Monguzzi conquered F1 , he never did, its importance lies somewhere else, DYWA represents the determination of a small Italian constructor attempting to break into an international sport dominated by manufacturers, established teams and increasingly enormous budgets, Monguzzi repeatedly designed cars, adapted them to changing regulations and found new ways to keep his project alive.
The F1 dream remained frustratingly out of reach, one car was represented but never made its planned debut, another reached the circuit but couldn’t secure the financial backing necessary for a sustained campaign, later, the same basic philosophy was adapted for Formula 3000, only for technical problems to bring another ambitious project to an early end.
Yet there is something fascinating about that persistence, DYWA was born in a workshop, developed through experimentation and repeatedly pushed toward categories that demanded resources far beyond those normally available to a small independent constructor.
Its cars may have spent far more time being designed, modified and prepared than competing, but each project reflected the same belief, that an outsider could still build something capable of taking on the established racing teams.
Note: Information on DYWA is rare and sometimes contradictory. We’ve gathered what we believe to be the most accurate facts from the sources available. If you know more, we’d love to hear from you; contact us on: CarsTimeFB@Gmail.com
We don’t have images of the DYWA cars to share — they’re nearly impossible to find. And the information itself is scattered, sometimes contradictory, and often incomplete. But we believe the story of a small garage that dared to dream of F1 is worth telling, even without pictures. We’ve done our best to gather the fragments and share them with you.
Related: If you liked this piece, check out our article on the Prodrive F1 team — a project that was ready to go but never raced.
