Van der Straten was synonymous with GT racing in the late 2000s and early 2010s with his Marc VDS team.
The team’s origins were in Belgium’s Belcar Endurance Championship, beginning with a Gillet Vertigo.
The team expanded into the FIA GT1 World Championship with a Ford GT and continued into the GT3 era via the Blancpain GT Series with the BMW Z4.
The team was perhaps most famous for that era of GT racing, with its iconic silver, yellow and maroon livery it carried to victory in the 24 Hours of Spa in 2015.
The team took a hiatus from GT racing to focus on two-wheel competition, expanding its grand prix presence from Moto3 and Moto2 into the premier class, MotoGP.
Its riders included Australia’s Jack Miller and Italy’s Franco Morbidelli.
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The team raced in MotoGP from 2015 to 2018 and has been a staple of Moto2 since 2010, with championship-winning alumni including Alex Marquez, Tito Rabat and Morbidelli.
In 2024, van der Straten returned to GT racing with the Olivier Laine-owned Boutsen Ginion Racing to form Boutsen VDS.
The team entered a Mercedes-AMG pair in GT World Challenge Europe and more recently two Porsche 911s.
Laine acknowledged van der Straten’s passing with a brief comment.
“The seasons we shared together, and especially these last 24 Hours of Spa, will stay with me forever. Thank you, Marc.”
In a statement, the team hailed van der Straten as “a visionary, a passionate racer, and above all a remarkable human being.”
“Marc was an iconic figure in both motorsport and motorcycle racing,” the team said.
“Through his dedication and passion, he left a lasting mark on these sports and an unforgettable legacy.
“To our team, Marc was the driving force behind a project he built with ambition, trust, and generosity.
“He constantly supported us and inspired everyone to give their very best.
“His passion, enthusiasm, and legacy will continue to live on within Boutsen VDS and in the hearts of all those who had the privilege of knowing him.
“Today, motorsport has lost one of its greatest enthusiasts. We have lost an exceptional man who will be deeply missed.”
Van der Straten’s eponymous Moto2 team also paid tribute.
“An internationally renowned entrepreneur, it was Marc’s indelible passion for motorsport that helped make him a household name all around the world for fans of racing on two and four wheels,” the team said in a statement.
“His love of motorsport was passed to him by his father, who was a former racer himself, and it was that shared enthusiasm that thrust Marc into a life dedicated to motorsport.”
The team labelled van der Starten’s venture into two-wheel racing an “incredible journey” after four-wheel success.
“It was with an enormous sense of pride that Marc witnessed his Marc VDS livery claim over 100 podiums in all world championship categories, with its most recent delivered by Sam Lowes in WorldSBK at MotorLand Aragon,” the team said.
“Beyond being the boss, Marc was a larger-than-life character whose signature chequered flag cap made him instantly recognisable all around the globe.
“Winning was special to him, but so was his quest for excellence both on and off the track. Marc VDS isn’t just a team. It’s a family. And one of his great pleasures in life was seeing that family thrive and succeed through hard work and dedication.
“Marc created memories that will last forever. And we will never forget him and what he contributed to helping so many chase and fulfil their dreams in a truly remarkable life.”
VDS reached sports car racing’s pinnacle, entering the 24 Hours of Le Mans in partnership with LMP2 team Panis Racing.
The team won last year’s European Le Mans Series, winning three races across Imola, Spa and Portimao.
“Marc was passionate about motor racing and as a team owner he won championships on both four and two wheels,” said Frederic Lequien, Le Mans Endurance Management CEO.
“Last season he was part of the VDS Panis Racing effort that saw the team and drivers crowned as ELMS LPM2 champions.
“His passion for the sport will be missed by everyone who had the pleasure to meet him and on behalf of the ELMS paddock, we send our condolences to the van Der Straten family, friends and loved ones.”
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