Welcome to the Racing for Dilano foundation

about us

The Racing for Dilano Foundation supports young motorsport talents in the most critical phase of their racing career: the period between medical treatment and return to competition.

In this phase, the necessary integration between medical care, physical development, and mental performance is often lacking. The result is a loss of valuable time, momentum, and position within the competitive talent pipeline, with direct impact on career opportunities and team placements.

Our focus is on a fast, safe, and performance-driven return to top level, through a multidisciplinary Recovery Support program in which physical, mental, and sport-specific guidance are fully aligned.

Our Approach

We work from three core principles:

Performance integration – one aligned pathway from rehabilitation to race readiness
Time optimization – minimizing unnecessary delays in recovery and accelerating return to competition
Career protection – preserving position and progression opportunities

Through this, we form an essential part of the high-performance environment surrounding the driver.

The foundation’s origin

I am Esther Schuller, mother of Dilano van ’t Hoff, founder and chair of the Racing for Dilano Foundation.

During Dilano’s recovery process, it became clear how vulnerable young drivers are without an integrated and sport-specific recovery program. Lack of alignment, delays in care, and limited expertise result in talent losing valuable time and career opportunities, under constant performance pressure.

At the same time, it became evident that standard medical solutions are often insufficient for the extreme physical demands of motorsport. Factors such as G-forces, impact loads, and race intensity require a specialized approach.

These insights formed the foundation of our vision and led to the development of Recovery Support: a structured program that guides drivers from initial recovery to full return to competition, with a focus on precision, speed, and integration, fully aligned with the demands of motorsport.

The Context of the Sport

After an intensive recovery process, Dilano returned to competition at an international level.

This underlined what is possible with dedication and the right guidance, but also how demanding and unpredictable the sport is, and why recovery, performance, and safety must always be approached in conjunction.

In Memory of an Exceptional Talent

On July 1, 2023, Dilano lost his life during the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine at Spa-Francorchamps.

The tragic accident at Raidillon, a fast and steep section with limited visibility due to wheel spray, demonstrated how vulnerable drivers are under extreme conditions. An initial impact destroyed his gearbox, after which he lost control, hit the barriers, and came to a standstill sideways on the track. A second impact at full speed proved fatal.

This accident not only highlighted the risks of the sport, but also the need for continuous innovation in safety and communication on track.

Following the incident, measures such as F1 mudflaps have been discussed to improve visibility in wet conditions. It also emphasized the need for real-time safety systems, such as a steering wheel-based marshalling system, for which his team MP Motorsport has advocated, enabling drivers to receive simultaneous warnings and immediately adjust speed in high-risk situations.

The global tribute from the motorsport community, visible on helmets, karts, and race cars, confirmed the impact Dilano had, both as a driver and as a person.

Legacy and Impact

Dilano’s story forms the core of our mission.

With Recovery Support, we help young drivers return stronger, smarter, and fully prepared, without unnecessary loss of time and with preservation of their career perspective.

In addition, we are committed to structural improvements in safety within motorsport, with the goal of reducing risks and better protecting drivers in critical situations.

Our Mission

We protect talent, accelerate recovery, and strengthen career continuity, enabling young drivers to fully realize their potential.

In Memory of Dilano

The video below shows who Dilano was, his passion, his resilience, and his dedication to the sport.

It shows why his legacy matters, and why we do what we do.

“Keep Racing for Dilano “