The maestro of motorsports, with multiple triumphs on both two and four wheels, becomes in 2025 the main partner of the team named vdS Panis Racing.

Founded by Marc van der Straten, the Marc VDS team has a history of success in motorsports. It continues the tradition of the Racing Team VDS, once led by Rudi, Marc’s late father.

A former racing driver, Rudi and his team competed in single-seater, GT, and touring car championships across Europe and the United States during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The team distinguished itself in legendary races such as the Indianapolis 500, the 24 Hours of Spa (at the wheel of a Mini Cooper), the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Formula 5000, Can-Am (winning the title in 1981), and CART/IndyCar.

Marc trained alongside his father in the workshops, repairing engines of iconic racing cars such as the Lola T70 MK3B and the Alfa Romeo GTA and TZ2. Over the years, the VDS team has driven numerous McLaren and Chevrolet cars. "My passion for engines and motorsport was innate."

In 2001, Marc revived the racing team in the FIA GT Championship. He won the GT1 teams' title in 2013 with BMW and finished second at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 2013 and 2015.

The Marc VDS team made its debut in Moto2 in 2010, and in 2014, the team won its first world championship with Tito Rabat. Franco Morbidelli in 2017 and Alex Marquez in 2019 completed the Marc VDS Racing Team’s triple crown in Moto2.

Not content with dominating the intermediate category, in 2015, Marc VDS entered MotoGP as a private Honda team. Just a year later, the dream became reality with Miller’s victory at the Dutch TT in Assen, making Marc VDS the first non-factory team to win a race since 2006. The team continued in MotoGP for two more years before refocusing on Moto2 from 2019 onwards.

Marc VDS is dedicated to helping riders develop and improve, which, for him, is just as important—if not more—than winning world titles. This management philosophy reflects how he approaches both his riders and his team, an approach that has clearly paid off with three Moto2 world championships. Vice-world champion in 2023, the adventure continues in Moto2, and a new challenge began in 2024 with the creation of a private World SBK team in partnership with Ducati and rider Sam Lowes.

At the same time, since 2022, the Lainé-Boutsen family and Marc VDS have decided to join forces by launching the Boutsen VDS team. The team competes in the Fanatec GT World Challenge and the Lamborghini Super Trofeo championships.

This season, driven by his attachment to former F1 driver Olivier Panis, Marc van der Straten has joined him in LMP2 and LMP2 Pro-Am in ELMS and for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. From this union, the vdS Panis Racing team was born. The Oreca 07 #48 and #29 will proudly bear the magnificent "Félin" logo.

Marc van der Straten: "I am deeply moved by the poetry of the team when they evoke the ‘félin,’ my lifelong emblem of the heart.

Sharing ELMS and the 24 Hours of Le Mans alongside them revives intense emotions in me, reminding me of that extraordinary adventure where, starting from nothing with Vanina Ickx, our pursuit of excellence led us to the podium of the legendary race.

Having the chance to relive such moments is an immense source of joy, especially alongside my friend Olivier Panis and with the technical support of TDS Racing. There is no doubt that our partnership will allow the ‘félin’ team to shine at the front of the field: we have talented drivers, perfectly prepared cars, and an unwavering determination to claim victory!"