Au revoir, Maxime. After the 2024 season, the paths of BMW M works driver Maxime Martin (BEL) and BMW M Motorsport will part ways. The 38-year-old will leave the Munich-based works line-up at his own request to pursue new challenges. This marks the end of a long and successful collaboration that began when Martin made a name for himself as a young talent in the BMW M Sports Trophy.
“BMW M Motorsport has played a significant role in my career from the very beginning, and I look back fondly on everything we achieved together – from my first successes in DTM and 24-hour races to the recent victories with the BMW M4 GT3. I am very grateful for the time we spent together and for my seven years as a BMW M works driver. I wish BMW M Motorsport great success in the future, and the brand will always remain a part of me. But now it’s time for me to take on new challenges.” – Maxime Martin
Thanks to his impressive performances in BMW M Motorsport’s customer racing program, Martin earned his place in the works driver line-up, joining for the first time in 2013. He initially competed as a regular driver for BMW M Team RLL in the American Le Mans Series before moving to DTM from 2014 to 2017. In 2016, he celebrated victory at his home race, the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL), driving the BMW M6 GT3 for ROWE Racing. In 2018, the Belgian moved to Aston Martin but returned to BMW M Motorsport as a works driver in the 2023 season.
BMW M Motorsport, 24 Hours Nürburgring 2023. ROWE Racing, #98 BMW M4 GT3, Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Dries Vanthoor (BEL), Marco Wittmann (GER), Maxime Martin (BEL).
Driving the BMW M4 GT3, the GT specialist continued to achieve success. Alongside Dries Vanthoor (BEL), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), and Marco Wittmann (GER), he secured a podium finish at the 2023 24 Hours Nürburgring (GER), finishing in second place with ROWE Racing. At BMW M Team WRT, Martin formed a strong duo in the #46 BMW M4 GT3 with Valentino Rossi (ITA) for two years. Highlights included victories in the GT World Challenge Europe at Rossi’s home race at Misano (ITA) in 2023 and 2024.
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Sebring International Raceway, 2024. BMW M Team RLL, GTP, LMDh, #25 BMW M Hybrid V8, Maxime Martin.
In the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC), Martin, Rossi, and Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA) reached the podium twice this season in the LMGT3 class. This was complemented by appearances in the BMW M Hybrid V8 with BMW M Team RLL in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, Total 24 Hours of Spa, 2016. Alexander Sims (GBR), Phillipp Eng (AUT), Maxime Martin (BEL), No 99, Rowe Racing, BMW M6 GT3.
“On behalf of the entire BMW M Motorsport family, I would like to thank Maxime Martin for the many years we have spent together. He began his successful career in the BMW M Sports Trophy and was a key and integral part of our works driver line-up for a long time. During these years, he was one of the defining faces of our programs, and we fondly remember the successes we achieved together in both endurance and sprint racing. However, we value not only his sporting skills but also his wonderful personality. He has been a tremendous asset to the BMW M Motorsport family in every aspect. We wish Maxime all the best for his future and look forward to seeing him again, though as a competitor, but still as a friend.” – Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport
Read the full press release here.
Tags: 24h Races BMW M Motorsport FIA WEC GT Racing IMSA Series LMDh Maxime Martin