BREAKING NEWS: Dutch driver Dilano Van ‘T Hoff, 18, dies in racing car accident at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium during the Formula Regional European Championship
- FRECA has confirmed the death of 18-year-old driver Dilano Van ‘T Hoff
- The Dutch driver was involved in a crash during race two at Spa-Francorchamps
- Tributes to the teen poured in from across the sport after the accident
Formula Regional European Championship has confirmed the death of 18-year-old Dutch driver Dilano van ‘t Hoff following a crash at Spa-Francorchamps.
A full statement read: “Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine sadly announces the passing of MP Motorsport driver Dilano Van ‘T Hoff. The incident happened during race 2 at Spa-Francorchamps.
“We would like to express our sincere condolences to the family, team and friends.
“The Royal Automobile Club of Belgium, the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit and SRO Motorsports Group, together with Alpine and ACI, extend their sincere condolences to the driver’s family, team and friends.”
The shocking incident occurred during a wet final race at the Belgian circuit, where the teenager was involved in a crash. A video of the accident has appeared on social media.
18-year-old Dutch driver Dilano Van ‘T Hoff has died after a crash at Spa-Francorchamps
Van ‘T Hoff appeared to be spinning through the rain before another car crashed into him
Footage showed the MP Motorsport driver losing control due to the rainy track conditions and stretching before another driver crashed into him.
Van’t Hoff was in his second full season in FRECA. In his first, he took one podium in Barcelona and finished third at that event in 2022.
Tributes for the young driver are already pouring in, with F1 chief Stefano Domenicali writing: “We are so sad to hear that Dilano van ‘t Hoff passed away today at Spa-Francorchamps. Dilano died while chasing his dream to pinnacle of motorsport.
“Together with the entire motorsport community, our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
A moment of silence was also held on the grid in Austria ahead of the F2 race following the news.
Van’t Hoff’s team, MP Motorsport, wrote: “MP Motorsport is deeply saddened to confirm that our driver, Dilano van’t Hoff, has passed away following a crash during the second race of the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine at Spa-Francorchamps.
“We are devastated by the loss of one of our greatest Dutch talents, who has given our team so much energy over the years he raced with us. Dilano has been part of our racing family since his motorsport debut with MP in 2021.
“We extend our sincere condolences to Dilano’s family and his loved ones, and fully support them and our team members who have lost not only a driver but also a friend.”
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz wrote on social media: “Terrible news from Spa. We have just learned that Dilano Van’t Hoff has passed away after a serious accident in Formula Regional.
“It is an extremely sad day for the entire motorsport family and my thoughts and condolences go out to his family and friends. RIP Dilano’
Spa-Francorchamps was also the circuit where Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert was killed in a horrific 270 km/h collision during the Belgian Grand Prix in 2019.
He had just come out of the well-known Eau Rouge section of the high-speed Spa race circuit when he was believed to have been involved in an accident that had happened seconds earlier.
More to follow…