The Formula Regional European Championship organisers have confirmed the death of 18-year-old racer Dilano Van ‘T Hoff following a crash in a race at Spa-Francorchamps today.
The MP Motorsport driver was involved in a multi-car collision at Kemmel following a restart shortly before the end of the race.
The incident occurred in poor visibility due to wet conditions at the track as drivers accelerated out of Raidillon following the restart. While no footage of the crash was broadcast during the coverage of the race, video filmed by a spectator appeared to show Van ‘T Hoff struck the barrier on the left-hand side of the track in the right-hand kink after Raidillon.
Van ‘T Hoff had been running in 19th place in the 34-car field when the restart was given. His car slid into the path of oncoming cars and was struck by that of rival Adam Fitzgerald. Another driver, Tim Tramnitz, crashed separately at the exit of Raidillon.
The series is yet to confirm the condition of other drivers involved in crashes at the restart.
“Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine sadly announces the death of MP Motorsport driver Dilano Van ‘T Hoff,” said the series in a statement. “The incident happened during Spa-Francorchamps race two.
“We want to express our sincere condolences to the family, team and friends.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
“Royal Automobile Club of Belgium, the Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps and SRO Motorsports Group join Alpine and ACI in expressing their sincerest condolences to the driver’s family, team and friends.”
Van ‘T Hoff’s MP Motorsport team said in a statement it is “devastated at the loss of one of our brightest Dutch talents, who brought so much energy to our team during the years he raced with us.”
“Dilano has been a part of our racing family since his motorsport debut with MP back in 2021,” it continued. “We offer our sincere condolences to Dilano’s family and his loved ones, and are in full support of them and our team members who have lost not only a driver but a friend as well.”
Van ‘T Hoff, from Dordrecht in the Netherlands, was in his third year of competing in racing cars after moving up from karts. He won the Spanish Formula 4 series in his first year of full-time racing, taking 10 wins. He also finished runner-up to Enzo Trulli by a single point in the Formula 4 UAE championship that year, before moving up Formula Regional in 2022.
The FREC races were part of the support events for this weekend’s Spa 24 Hours. The promoters have said all pre-race start line entertainment has been cancelled and a minute of silence will be held before the race begins.
Advert | Become a RaceFans supporter and
