30 January 2009VDS Racing Adventures soon to land in the Belgian GT Championship...A Ford Mustang FR500 GT3 for Stéphane Lémeret and Raphaël van der Straten!
Created in Brussels back in November 1964 by Count Rodolphe van der Straten Ponthoz, Serge Trosch and Lionel Wallman, Racing Team VDS swiftly became one of the most prestigious private Belgian motor sport stables. 24 Hours of Spa, European Touring Car Championship, Sports-Prototypes, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Interseries, Formula 5000, CanAm, CART, are just part of this quite exceptional path undertaken by this Belgian team with its notorious red muscle cars, adorned with a blue and white stripe. Amongst the drivers who were the driving force in creating the history behind Racing Team VDS, in the first place we must mention Teddy Pilette, but also Peter Gethin, Geoff Brabham, John Andretti, Teo Fabi and even Didier Theys!
Keen to carry on with the ambitions of this family legend, Raphaël van der Straten has always shown a great passion for motor sport, creating his own team, namely the VDS Racing Adventures, in 2006. A logical evolution one might say, the outcome of an initial adventure christened Evolution Motorsport, followed by a spell in solo with BMWs, whether it be with the M3 of the Belgian Touring Car Series and the GDC championship, or the M5 which twice competed in the 24 Hours of Dubai.
Following a second somewhat frustrating appearance in the Emirates in January 2008, VDS Racing Adventures decided to grant the M5 a well deserved retirement, the lot falling on a car both more modern and powerful, namely the Ford Mustang FR500C GT4; the European champion in its category in the capable hands of Eric De Doncker! «I competed with this car in the GT4 European Cup, soon to realise … that this type of competition wasn’t for me », Raphaël van der Straten explained. «I was either in the wrong pack, or I found myself amongst them … and the collisions increased! »
Raphaël van der Straten also entered his car in the 24 Hours of Zolder together with Christian Deridder and Jacques Morlet. With as outcome a final 17th place. «Quite simply a pretty exceptional adventure», Raphaël continued, always with a hint of emotion in his voice. «But something less known is the fact that this was the first 24 Hours race in which a Ford Mustang actually finished…in the history of this car of legends! I even received messages from the United States, from Ford Racing and more especially from Roush & Yates, the engine tuners, to congratulate us and confirm the matter!»
During this month of January 2009, the VDS Racing Adventures team headed off for Dubai with a second Mustang FR500 GT4, shipped straight out of the United States. Stéphane Lémeret, the driver-journalist joined the trio of the 24 Hours of Zolder, with at the end of it an 18th place (out of more than 80 cars at the start), and more especially a silver medal in the SP2 category. And as per usual, a great atmosphere in the team welcoming Dany Delvaux as the team-manager; a role in which he excels, and no doubt will retain in the future …
Wishing to pursue this adventure, Raphaël, keenly encouraged by Stéphane Lémeret, ended up acquiring another Mustang, the reputable FR500 GT3 straight out of the Matech Racing workshops! A power beast which Mr VDS Racing Adventures had observed evolving in GT3, finally discovering it in a static state during the previous International Motor Show Luxembourg. «In fact, I didn’t acquire one, but two Mustang FR500 GT3, together with numerous spare parts », Raphaël continued, « and together with Stéphane we decided to launch ourselves in the Belgian GT Championship in Division 1!»
Displayed in preview this weekend at the International Racing Show Liège (we have come full circle …), the new muscle car will rub shoulders with the GT4 version of the Mustang. «Just to clarify matters, the objective of VDS Racing Adventures remains the same: to tackle things in a serious manner without taking oneself too seriously! We hope to save between 40 and 50 kilos on the car, and according to Stéphane, we should be able to achieve a top 10 at each event. We also intend entering this Mustang FR500 GT3 in the 12 Hours of Budapest and perhaps the 24 Hours of Spa…»
Notice to all aficionados, a second Mustang FR500 GT3 might be putting in an appearance in the Belgian GT. To find out more, Raphaël van der Straten will be present at the International Racing Show Liège this coming Friday 30th January (between 1600 and 2000hrs) and Sunday 1st February (from 1300 until 1900hrs). On a final note, he is open to all proposals …
Let the Adventure begin … and that the legend lives on!
