Two icons of motorsports together in the Nascar Whelen Euro Series

Marc van der Straten and Franz Dubois share the same passion. They both belong to the same generation. They rarely raced against each other, but they both crossed an entire era and championships. Thanks to Nathalie Maillet, Franz’s wife, these two icons of motorsports were able to share the same passion: a passion for car racing in general and Nascar in particular. Starting in 2014 they will cooperate within the Racing Club Partners team. They will enter three cars in the Nascar Whelen Euro Series, and those machines will be driven by five drivers in total.

During each of the six events the same car enters two championships: the Open category and the Elite division, where the most experienced drivers confront each other. Nathalie Maillet and Christophe de Fierlant will be part of the Open category and are still looking for two team-mates. It is important to know that the performances of one driver are in no way influenced by the results of his or her team-mate.

One car can also be driven by one and the same driver, who then enters both championships. That is the case for the number one driver of the team, Bas Leinders. In 2014, the Belgian will take up several tasks. The team principal of the Marc VDS Racing Team will drive a BMW in the VLN championship and will of course be part of the driver line-up during the 24 hours of the Nürburgring and the Spa 24 hours. Franz Dubois knows the Nascar Whelen Euro Series through and through and is convinced that thanks to his approach, qualities and talent Bas Leinders will be among the frontrunners, after a short period of adaptation.

Numerous bonuses and drives in the American Nascar await the best of both championships, championships which in Europe are organised by Jérôme Galpin. The six events are held in five different countries (see calendar). Marc van der Straten Ponthoz, already active in Moto 2 and Moto 3, in the VLN, during the 24 hours of the Nürburgring and the Spa 24 hours, did not hesitate long before lending his support to the project of Nathalie Maillet.

“I have always had the ambition of working together with Franz Dubois”, Marc VDS states. “He is a self made man, who conquered great results during his whole career as a tuner. Furthermore, together with a couple of friends he invented a revolutionary concept: the VW Fun Cup. Thanks to her enthusiasm Nathalie managed to convince me and from the moment it was clear that Bas would become their number one driver, I had no other choice than to give this wonderful idea my blessing.”

They were really determined to create a true technical partnership between their respective teams, which is why it did not take long before everything fell into place for Franz and Marc. They are a perfect match. Dubois – van der Straten: could this alliance be the scoop of the year?

2014 Calendar
26/27 April Valencia Spain
7/8 June Brands Hatch United Kingdom
6/7 July Tours Speedway France
19/20 July Nürburgring Germany
27/28 September TBC Italy
11/12 October Le Mans France