The Marc VDS Racing Team will take on its biggest ever weekend on May 16-17, with four races, four different categories, and three different venues. It adds up to 47 hours and five minutes of combined action over the course of the weekend!
While BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS attack the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, BMW Team Marc VDS will take on the European Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Imola, and Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS the MotoGP and Moto2 races at Le Mans.
In Germany, Marc VDS will be hoping to return to the podium as they aim for overall victory in the 24-hour race. The squad narrowly missed out on victory in 2013, before being denied once more in 2014. They are back with renewed vigour and hunger this season, with one of the strongest line-ups in the field, ready for the demanding challenge of the Nordschleife. Two BMW Z4 GT3s are entered – #25 for Lucas Luhr, Maxime Martin, Markus Palttala and Richard Westbrook, and #26 for Dirk Adorf, Nick Catsburg, Augusto Farfus and Jörg Müller.
The Italian challenge is taken up by the team’s new-for-2015 BMW Z4 GTE. Henry Hassid, Jesse Krohn and Andy Priaulx showed pace and some promise in the car on its race debut in Silverstone, and they’ll be looking to stand on the podium together for the first time at Imola.
At Le Mans, Scott Redding will be looking to rise up the points as he continues his MotoGP challenge on the Honda RC213V. The #45 bike recently completed a fruitful test at Jerez, and the British rider will take this knowledge and confidence into the fifth race of the MotoGP World Championship.
Joining Redding in France are reigning world champions Tito Rabat – Moto2 – and Alex Marquez – Moto3 – on the Kalex Moto2 machines. Rabat scored his first rostrum of the season at Jerez and will be looking to continue his progress upward in the Moto2 World Championship. Marquez will be aiming to score further points in his debut Moto2 season.
Bas Leinders, BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS Team Principal
“To see this team challenging for victory in four different races in one weekend is absolutely fantastic, and testament to the commitment of Marc van der Straten. We go into the 24 Hours of Nürburgring with a simple aim – to win the race. We’ve got unfinished business there. In Imola, I’m sure that we can build on the solid foundations laid at Silverstone, and aim for the podium. We’ll be very busy with two races at once, but I’m absolutely certain we’re prepared for it. We’ve got great strength in depth, and I’m excited to see that in action.”
Michael Bartholemy, Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Team Principal
“It’s been a tough start to the season, but the podium for Tito in Jerez and Scott’s performance in the Jerez test immediately after the Spanish Grand Prix shows we’re back on track and ready to compete at the front once again. Le Mans is a track that all our riders like, and one at which we won in 2013 with Redding and in 2014 with Kallio, so we’re expecting a strong showing in France this weekend. There aren’t many motorsport teams with the capability of racing across four championships in three different countries on the same weekend, but the team aren’t heading to France, Germany and Italy just to race; we’re going there to fight for podium finishes. Now that is pretty unique, and a testament to Marc van der Straten’s passion and commitment to motorsport at the very highest levels.”
Marc van der Straten, Marc VDS Racing Team Owner
“It’s a fantastic feeling to see the Marc VDS Racing Team so strong, and taking on all these races at once. Obviously, I’m very proud of the achievements of my team so far. This weekend presents an opportunity for us to go even further, and I’m really looking forward to it. My only problem was deciding which to attend… So in the end I’ll take some time in both Germany and France. It’s going to be an exciting few days!”
Timetable (all times CET):
Saturday, May 16:
16:00 – Start, 24 Hours of Nürburgring, 24 hours
Sunday, May 17:
12:20 – Start, Moto2 Grand Prix de France, 26 laps
14:00 – Start, European Le Mans Series 4 Hours of Imola, 4 hours
14:00 – Start, MotoGP Grand Prix de France, 28 laps