The final round of the Ligue Hauts de France championship in Ostricourt was one of the most emotional weekends of the season. What started as a promising race weekend ended with a difficult but necessary decision for our team — and, ultimately, a moment of justice weeks later.
The objective was clear: defend our championship position and fight for a place on the podium. Lukas once again showed incredible pace and teamwork, setting the fastest lap in Heat 1, Heat 2, and the Final, while helping teammate Tom Damez push toward the top three.
Race summary
- Qualifying: P6
- Heat 1: P4
- Heat 2: P5
- Superheat: P9 (initially disqualified)
- Final: P13 → P8
However, the weekend took a frustrating turn when Lukas was disqualified in the Superheat for being ahead of the pole-sitter during the formation lap. While the rules allow for a time penalty in such cases, the race officials issued a black flag in lap 6 of the race — an extreme measure that removed both Lukas and Tom from the race entirely. The situation arose after the pole-sitter hesitated at the start, creating confusion in the grid. Lukas and Tom gave the position back before the start line, and the incident had no impact on the fairness or outcome of the race. Yet, the black flag was shown and a disqualification was given — and later explained as “a penalty for ignoring the black flag,” a decision that many felt was unjustified.
This was not the first time inconsistencies had affected competitors that season. Errors such as waving the chequered flag one lap later (Douvrin) or ignoring overtakes under yellow flags (also Douvrin) had already created tension. Following this latest event, we decided that for the well-being and fairness of our driver, we would no longer participate in races organized by the Ligue Hauts de France.
We initially closed the championship in P4 overall, missing the podium despite outstanding performances and perseverance. But the story didn’t end there.
Update: Disqualification removed – P3 in championship
Following a formal review by the sporting commission, the disqualification of Lukas Vanderheeren and Tom Damez in the Superheat was revised. The decision was changed to a 5-second time penalty, and the race organisation issued an apology, acknowledging that the black flag should never have been shown.
As a result of the correction, Lukas secured enough points to finish 3rd overall in the Ligue Hauts de France regional championship — a deserved recognition of his speed, consistency, and sportsmanship.
Gratitude
We want to thank our partners and supporters who stood by us throughout this journey: Claude Bal, Benoit Bajerski, CRG Belgium, Joris Buyse, LAMAC Machinery, Carwash de Singel, FiftyFive, and all fans who came to cheer trackside.
This season has been a reminder that racing is not only about winning — it’s about choices, integrity, and the will to keep pushing forward.