The passing of FRECA driver Dilano van ‘t Hoff after yet another serious accident at Spa-Francorchamps has left the motorsport world in shock. The 18-year-old Dutchman, racing for Dutch outfit MP Motorsport, had his whole career and life ahead of him cut short. Who was this promising talent who tragically succumbed to his injuries just before the Kemmel Straight?

By Nida Anis

In the first year of his feeder series career, Dilano van ’t Hoff looked destined for stardom. The then 16-year-old instantly impressed in the 2021 F4 UAE championship, finishing second in his car racing debut before going on to win five of the next eight races. After a successful karting career, the Dutchman was keen to follow in the footsteps of his father, Alex – who took the Super GT title in the 2010 Dutch Supercar Challenge.

Van ’t Hoff continued to show strong pace throughout his campaign in the Middle East, taking a total of twelve podiums over the course of the championship. He would eventually finish runner-up to Enzo Trulli – son of former Formula 1 driver Jarno Trulli – after missing out on the championship by just one point.

Spanish F4 success

After coming close to championship glory in the UAE, the Dutchman was determined to continue his run of success. Whilst his F4 UAE campaign was still ongoing, Van ’t Hoff signed with MP Motorsport for the 2021 Spanish F4 Championship.

Van ‘t Hoff rated the Dutch outfit very highly. “MP is a leading team in Formula 4,” he said. “They know how to build a winning car. So, at MP, I would like to continue the winning streak I have started in UAE F4.

“Four of the five most recent Spanish F4 champions drove for MP, so I have my sights set on becoming the fifth!”

The teenage talent – who received support from the Dutch motorsport federation’s KNAF academy – would ultimately add to MP’s championship tally with a dominant Spanish F4 campaign: he won 10 of the 21 races and finished on the podium 17 times.

After clinching the championship with a 130-point margin over his nearest rival, Sebastian Øgaard, Van ’t Hoff had his sights set on the next step on the feeder series ladder: Formula Regional.

Stepping up to Formula Regional

Before the Spanish F4 Championship had even concluded, Van ’t Hoff began to test the waters in Formula Regional. The Dutchman stepped up to his first competitive FRECA outing in Valencia in September 2021, contesting the last six races of the championship alongside teammates Franco Colapinto, Kas Haverkort, and Oliver Goethe as a wildcard driver.

Van ’t Hoff would then go on to compete in the 2022 Formula Regional Asian Championship with Pinnacle Motorsport. He achieved pole position and a third-place podium finish in round three of the championship at Dubai Autodrome – results which would set him up well for the 2022 FRECA season ahead.

Unfortunately for the Dutchman, 2022 was a year marred by injuries. Van ’t Hoff sustained a shoulder injury in the first FRECA round at Monza, which impacted his performances in Imola and Monaco. Despite having surgery one week before the Monaco event, he was forced to miss the Paul Ricard and Hungary rounds to prioritise his recovery.

Van ’t Hoff made his championship comeback at Spa-Francorchamps, and it wasn’t long before he returned to the rostrum: the Dutchman finished third in the second Barcelona race, showing a true display of skill and tenacity. However, he sustained further injuries that meant that he could not participate in the newly rebranded Formula Regional Middle East Championship.

After a winter on the sidelines, Van ’t Hoff’s focus was on mounting a strong 2023 FRECA campaign with MP Motorsport. “I’m very grateful to MP for sticking with me through the bad times,” he said.

“They have a reputation as one of the best teams in single-seater racing but that doesn’t translate into cold-hearted decision-making. Instead, they continue to cherish their family atmosphere and show that they can win by caring.

“We’ve been winners together in 2021, and I’m aiming to repay their faith in me by returning to the form that is familiar to the team. Last year’s setback has made me mentally stronger, helping me to be fully prepared for the 2023 FRECA season.

“I’m aiming for the Dutch team with their Dutch driver to hit the headlines!”

A career cut short

Tragically, Van ’t Hoff’s 2023 championship campaign would be his last. After achieving two points-scoring finishes across the past three championship events, the Dutchman retired from the first race of the fourth round at Spa-Francorchamps. He would later succumb to his injuries following a horror crash before the Kemmel Straight on the last lap of the race. Van ‘t Hoff was eighteen years old.

The promising talent had a bright future ahead of him, with plans to move up the feeder series ladder with MP Motorsport to Formula 3 in 2024. Kind, but introverted, he was known throughout the paddock for his skill in the wet, as well as his determination and focus towards achieving his dream of making it to the pinnacle of motorsport.

Feeder Series mourns the passing of Dilano van ’t Hoff and sends its sincere condolences to his family, friends, and team at MP Motorsport.

Header photo credit: Sebastiaan Rozendaal / Dutch Photo Agency