Dutch driver Dilano Van ‘T Hoff, 18, dies in racing car crash at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium

Formula Regional European Championship have 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 death of MP Motorsport driver Dilano Van ‘T Hoff. The incident happened during Spa-Francorchamps race 2.

‘We want to express our sincere condolences to the family, team and friends.

‘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.’

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 following a crash at Spa-Francorchamps

Van ‘T Hoff appeared to spin out amid the rain before another driving collided into him 

Formula Regional European Championship confirmed the teenagers death via a statement

Footage showed that, due to the rainy conditions on the track, the MP Motorsport driver lost control and span out before another driver collided into him. 

Van’t Hoff was in his second full season racing in FRECA. In his first, he took one podium at Barcelona, finishing third at that event in 2022. 

Tributes for the young driver have already begun flooding in, with F1 chief Stefano Domenicali writing: ‘We are so sad to learn of the passing of Dilano van ‘t Hoff today at Spa-Francorchamps. Dilano died in pursuit of his dream to reach the pinnacle of motorsport.

‘Along 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 as a result of a crash during the second race of the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine at Spa Francorchamps.

‘We are 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.

‘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’s team, MP Motorsport, said they were ‘deeply saddened’ by the news and labelled the 18-year-old as ‘one of our brightest Dutch talents’ (credit: Instagram @dilano_vant_hoff)

Other tributes for the 18-year-old have flooded in on social media following the news (credit: Instagram @dilano_vant_hoff)

Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz took to social media to write: ‘Terrible news from Spa. We’ve just learned Dilano Van’t Hoff has passed away after a big accident in Formula Regional.

‘It is an extremely sad day for the entire motorsport family and my thoughts and condolences go to his family and friends. RIP Dilano’

Spa-Francorchamps was also the track where Formula 2 driver Anthoine Hubert was killed in a horrific 170mph collision racing in the Belgian Grand Prix back in 2019.

He had just been coming out of the well-known Eau Rouge part of the high-speed Spa racing circuit, when it is believed he was involved in an accident that had happened seconds before.

An FIA statement says that Hubert was rushed to the medical centre after the incident, but succumbed to his injuries and died.