Jarno D’Hauw handed disqualification and licence suspension after repeated speeding offences during the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours
What began as an unforgettable opportunity for young Belgian racer Jarno D’Hauw quickly spiralled into one of the biggest controversies of the 2026 Nürburgring 24 Hours weekend, after the 22-year-old was disqualified from the race and stripped of his racing licence over multiple Code 60 speeding violations.
D’Hauw had originally travelled to the Nürburgring simply as a fan, hoping to watch the famous endurance classic and witness the highly anticipated debut of in the legendary event. However, his weekend unexpectedly changed course when JJ Motorsport contacted him to step in as a late replacement driver for the team’s No. 658 BMW M240i after another competitor withdrew.
The surprise call-up initially appeared to be a dream scenario for the young Belgian. But during the race, things rapidly unravelled.
According to reports from GPFans Netherlands journalist Vincent Bruins, D’Hauw breached the speed limit in a Code 60 zone on three separate occasions. Officials first recorded him travelling at 63 km/h and later 69 km/h in restricted sections before a far more serious incident saw him allegedly reach 136 km/h under yellow flag neutralisation conditions.
Race control reacted swiftly, issuing an immediate disqualification from the event. The sanctions did not stop there, with officials also revoking D’Hauw’s DPN racing licence following the repeated offences.
Code 60 regulations are a critical safety measure at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, particularly during endurance events such as the 24 Hours. The procedure requires drivers to slow to 60 km/h in designated sectors where accidents, stranded cars, marshals or recovery vehicles may be present. Unlike a full safety car deployment, the localised neutralisation system allows races to continue while ensuring dangerous sections remain controlled.
Given the extreme speeds and narrow layout of the Nordschleife, breaches of Code 60 rules are treated extremely seriously by race officials due to the potential safety risks for both track personnel and drivers.
Before the race weekend took its dramatic turn, D’Hauw had spoken enthusiastically about the unexpected opportunity. In comments to GT Report, he revealed he had never anticipated actually competing in the event.
“The plan was to just watch the race,” D’Hauw explained. “But JJ Motorsport got a last-minute call-off from one of their drivers. I of course said yes. Who doesn’t want to drive this race?”
Instead of serving as a breakthrough moment in his racing career, the Nürburgring appearance ended in controversy and disappointment, with D’Hauw receiving one of the toughest punishments handed out during this year’s event.