Maxime Martin

Maxime Ariane Pascal Martin (born 20 March 1986) is a Belgian professional racing driver competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship with Iron Lynx. He is currently a Mercedes-AMG factory driver, having previously been so for BMW in two different spells and Aston Martin. He won the 2016 24 Hours of Spa for BMW, the 2020 24 Hours of Le Mans in GTE Pro for Aston Martin, and the 2026 24 Hours of Nürburgring for Mercedes-AMG. He is also an FIA GT1 World Championship, GT World Challenge Europe, American Le Mans Series and DTM race winner.

He is the son of four-time Spa 24 Hours winner Jean-Michel Martin.

Early career

Born in Uccle, Martin finished fourth in 2006 in the Formula Renault 1.6 Belgium series. In 2007, he began racing in the Eurocup Mégane Trophy, finishing third overall with one victory. The following year, he finished as runner-up, with six wins. He also won the French Renault Clio Cup title. In 2009, he raced mainly in the FIA GT3 European Championship for AutoGT Racing in a Morgan Aero 8, winning at Silverstone.

Sportscar racing

For 2010, Martin began racing in the new FIA GT1 World Championship for the Marc VDS Racing Team in a Ford GT. Along with teammate Bas Leinders he scored two podium finishes and ended the season 14th in the standings. In 2011, Martin teamed with Frédéric Makowiecki to win four races, including both rounds at Ordos. Between 2011 and 2013, Martin raced in the Blancpain Endurance Series mainly driving a BMW Z4 GT3 also for the Marc VDS Racing Team. His best result came in 2012, where he finished runner-up together with his teammates Bas Leinders and Markus Palttala.

BMW factory driver (2013–2017)

After strong results in the Blancpain Endurance Series driving the BMW Z4 GT3, Martin was promoted to a factory driver for 2013. In 2013, Martin mainly competed in the American Le Mans Series with BMW Team RLL in the all new BMW Z4 GTE. He and his teammate Bill Auberlen won in only the second race and finished sixth in the Drivers' standings.

In 2014, Martin made his debut in the DTM championship for BMW. He won a race at the Moscow Raceway, the first victory for a Belgian in the DTM. In 2015, he won another race, this time at the Nürburgring. In 2016, he only managed to finish twice on the podium, and ended the year winless. 2017 was his most successful season yet in the DTM, ending the season with one victory and four podiums.

In 2016, Martin won the Spa 24 Hours together with Alexander Sims and Philipp Eng, driving a BMW M6 GT3. By winning this race, he followed in the footsteps of his father Jean-Michel Martin, who won the race four times, and his uncle Philippe, who won twice alongside Jean-Michel.

Aston Martin Racing factory driver (2018–2022)

In late 2017, Martin announced he would leave BMW after five years as a factory driver. He later announced he would join Aston Martin Racing as a factory driver to race in the 2018-19 FIA World Endurance Championship. In September 2020, Martin won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in the LMGTE Pro class together with Alex Lynn and Harry Tincknell for Aston Martin Racing. He took four more podiums during the season and finished runner-up in the Drivers' standings.

While Aston Martin Racing officially ended its factory involvement in the FIA WEC after the 2019-2020 season, Martin was retained as a factory driver to support the customer racing program. However, due to a lack of opportunities in 2021, he raced on Porsche cars on several occasions. In 2022, Martin raced in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 from The Heart of Racing Team. This marked his return to a full time program in North America for the first time since 2013. Martin ended up winning two races in the GTD class during the season, one of which was the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, helping his teammate Roman De Angelis win the title. At the end of the season, he and Aston Martin decided to part ways after five seasons.

Return to BMW Motorsport (since 2023)

On October 26, 2022, it was announced that Martin would return to the squad of BMW factory drivers. In 2023, Martin would mainly compete in the GT World Challenge Europe series partnering MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi driving a BMW M4 GT3 for Team WRT. Beside his GT program, Martin would also be involved in WRT's testing program of the BMW M Hybrid V8. On July 16, he and Rossi won the second sprint race at the Misano circuit which marked Rossi's maiden win in the championship.

Racing record

Career summary † As Martin was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points. Season still in progress.

Complete FIA GT1 World Championship results Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pos. Points 2010 Marc VDS Racing Team Ford GT1 ABUQR6 ABUCR13 SILQR19 SILCR8 BRNQR16 BRNCRRet PRIQR20 PRICR4 SPAQR9 SPACRRet NÜRQRRet NÜRCR11 ALGQRRet ALGCR5 NAVQR3 NAVCR5 INTQR11 INTCR5 SANQR3 SANCRRet 14th 54 2011 Marc VDS Racing Team Ford GT1 ABUQR1 ABUCR8 ZOLQR5 ZOLCR8 ALGQR6 ALGCRRet SACQR1 SACCRRet SILQRNC SILCRRet NAVQR3 NAVCR4 PRIQR5 PRICR6 ORDQR1 ORDCR1 BEIQRRet BEICR4 SANQR15 SANCR11 6th 98 2012 Valmon Racing Team Russia Aston Martin DBRS9 NOGQR16 NOGCR12 ZOLQR9 ZOLCR12 NAVQR14 NAVQRRet SVKQR SVKCR ALGQR ALGCR SVKQR SVKCR MOSQR MOSCR NURQR NURCR DONQR DONCR 28th 0

Complete GT World Challenge Europe results GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup

GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pos. Points 2013 Marc VDS Racing Team BMW Z4 GT3 Pro NOGQR NOGCR ZOLQR ZOLCR ZANQR ZANCR SVKQR SVKCR NAVQR NAVCR BAKQR BAKCR NC‡ 0‡ 2015 BMW Sports Trophy Team Brasil BMW Z4 GT3 Pro NOGQR NOGCR BRHQR BRHCR ZOLQR ZOLCR MOSQR MOSCR ALGQR ALGCR MISQR MISCR ZANQR ZANCR 14th 31 2016 Boutsen Ginion BMW M6 GT3 Pro-Am MISQR MISCR BRHQR BRHCR 6th 21 Rowe Racing Pro NÜRQR NÜRCR HUNQR HUNCR CATQR CATCR 26th 4 2023 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 Pro BRH1 BRH2 MIS1 MIS2 HOC1 HOC2 VAL1 VAL2 ZAN1 ZAN2 5th 50 2024 Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 Pro BRH1 BRH2 MIS1 MIS2 HOC1 HOC2 MAG1 MAG2 CAT1 CAT2 8th 27 2025 Boutsen VDS Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Pro BRH1 BRH2 ZAN1 ZAN2 MIS1 MIS2 MAG1 MAG2 VAL1 VAL2 10th 17.5 ‡ As Martin was a guest driver, he was ineligible for championship points.

Complete 24 Hours of Spa results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 2006 First Motorsport Dries Heyman Jean-Claude Meert Peter Van Delm Porsche 911 GT3 Cup G3 232 DNF DNF 2008 Belgian Racing Bas Leinders Renaud Kuppens Gillet Vertigo Streiff G2 145 DNF DNF 2009 Matech GT Racing Marc Hennerici Thomas Mutsch Peter Wyss Ford GT GT3 G3 519 7th 1st 2010 Marc VDS Racing Team Marc Duez Bas Leinders Ford GT GT3 GT3 512 8th 2nd 2011 Marc VDS Racing Team Marc Hennerici Bas Leinders BMW Z4 GT3 Pro Cup 102 DNF DNF 2012 Marc VDS Racing Team Bas Leinders Markus Palttala BMW Z4 GT3 Pro Cup 507 4th 4th 2013 Marc VDS Racing Team Yelmer Buurman Bas Leinders BMW Z4 GT3 Pro Cup 300 DNF DNF 2014 BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS Augusto Farfus Jörg Müller BMW Z4 GT3 Pro Cup 153 DNF DNF 2015 BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS Augusto Farfus Dirk Werner BMW Z4 GT3 Pro Cup 399 31st 14th 2016 ROWE Racing Philipp Eng Alexander Sims BMW M6 GT3 Pro Cup 531 1st 1st 2017 ROWE Racing Philipp Eng Alexander Sims BMW M6 GT3 Pro Cup 498 33rd 20th 2018 R-Motorsport Dominik Baumann Marvin Kirchhöfer Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 Pro Cup 485 35th 20th 2019 R-Motorsport Matt Parry Matthieu Vaxivière Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Pro Cup 84 DNF DNF 2020 Garage 59 Jonathan Adam Chris Goodwin Alexander West Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Pro-Am 519 20th 3rd 2021 KCMG Nick Tandy Laurens Vanthoor Porsche 911 GT3 R Pro Cup 554 5th 5th 2022 Beechdean AMR Marco Sørensen Nicki Thiim Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Pro Cup 534 10th 10th 2023 Team WRT Augusto Farfus Valentino Rossi BMW M4 GT3 Pro Cup 537 6th 6th 2024 Team WRT Raffaele Marciello Valentino Rossi BMW M4 GT3 Pro Cup 475 24th 13th 2025 Boutsen VDS Maximilian Götz Mikaël Grenier Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Pro Cup 127 DNF DNF 2026 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed Maximilian Götz Fabian Schiller Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Pro Cup 70 DNF DNF

Complete 24 Hours of Nürburgring results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 2012 Marc VDS Racing Team Bas Leinders Markus Palttala BMW Z4 GT3 SP9 GT3 154 4th 4th 2013 Marc VDS Racing Team Yelmer Buurman Andrea Piccini Richard Göransson BMW Z4 GT3 SP9 GT3 88 2nd 2nd 2014 BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS Uwe Alzen Jörg Müller Marco Wittmann BMW Z4 GT3 SP9 GT3 60 DNF DNF 2015 BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS Lucas Luhr Markus Palttala Richard Westbrook BMW Z4 GT3 SP9 GT3 156 2nd 2nd 2016 ROWE Racing Philipp Eng Alexander Sims Dirk Werner BMW M6 GT3 SP9 133 5th 5th 2017 ROWE Racing Philipp Eng Marc Basseng BMW M6 GT3 SP9 157 10th 10th 2018 Aston Martin Racing Marco Sørensen Nicki Thiim Darren Turner Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 SP9-LG 134 4th 1st 2020 Frikadelli Racing Team Lance David Arnold Mathieu Jaminet Lars Kern Porsche 911 GT3 R SP9 85 7th 7th 2021 Frikadelli Racing Team Frédéric Makowiecki Dennis Olsen Patrick Pilet Porsche 911 GT3 R SP9 54 DNF DNF 2022 TF Sport AMR David Pittard Marco Sørensen Nicki Thiim Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 SP9 PRO 45 DNF DNF 2023 ROWE Racing Sheldon van der Linde Dries Vanthoor Marco Wittmann BMW M4 GT3 SP9 PRO 162 2nd 2nd 2024 ROWE Racing Augusto Farfus Raffaele Marciello Marco Wittmann BMW M4 GT3 SP9 PRO 50 7th 7th 2025 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed Maro Engel Fabian Schiller Luca Stolz Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo SP9 PRO 41 DNF DNF 2026 Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol Maro Engel Fabian Schiller Luca Stolz Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo SP9 Pro 156 1st 1st

Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 2011 Kronos Racing Marc VDS Racing Team Vanina Ickx Bas Leinders Lola-Aston Martin B09/60 LMP1 328 7th 7th 2012 OAK Racing David Heinemeier Hansson Bas Leinders Morgan LMP2-Nissan LMP2 341 14th 7th 2013 Thiriet by TDS Racing Pierre Thiriet Ludovic Badey Oreca 03-Nissan LMP2 310 DNF DNF 2018 Aston Martin Racing Alex Lynn Jonathan Adam Aston Martin Vantage AMR GTEPro 327 37th 13th 2019 Aston Martin Racing Alex Lynn Jonathan Adam Aston Martin Vantage AMR GTEPro 325 44th 12th 2020 Aston Martin Racing Alex Lynn Harry Tincknell Aston Martin Vantage AMR GTEPro 346 20th 1st 2021 Hub Auto Racing Álvaro Parente Dries Vanthoor Porsche 911 RSR-19 GTEPro 227 DNF DNF 2023 DKR Engineering Tom van Rompuy Ugo de Wilde Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 311 32nd 15th LMP2 Pro-Am 3rd 2024 Team WRT Ahmad Al Harthy Valentino Rossi BMW M4 GT3 LMGT3 109 DNF DNF 2025 Iron Lynx Martin Berry Lin Hodenius Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo LMGT3 337 44th 12th 2026 Iron Lynx Rui Andrade Martin Berry Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo LMGT3 65 DNF DNF

Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Pos. Points 2014 BMW Team RMG BMW M4 DTM HOC OSC HUN NOR MSC SPL NÜR LAU ZAN HOC 7th 47 2015 BMW Team RMG BMW M4 DTM HOC1 HOC2 LAU1 LAU2 NOR1 NOR2 ZAN1 ZAN2 SPL1 SPL2 MSC1 MSC2 OSC1 OSC2 NÜR1 NÜR2 HOC1 HOC2 7th 94 2016 BMW Team RBM BMW M4 DTM HOC1 HOC2 SPL1 SPL2 LAU1 LAU2 NOR1 NOR2 ZAN1 ZAN2 MSC1 MSC2 NÜR1 NÜR2 HUN1 HUN2 HOC1 HOC2 8th 90 2017 BMW Team RBM BMW M4 DTM HOC1 HOC2 LAU1 LAU2 HUN1 HUN2 NOR1 NOR2 MSC1 MSC2 ZAN1 ZAN2 NÜR1 NÜR2 SPL1 SPL2 HOC1 HOC2 8th 132

Complete Bathurst 12 Hour results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 2020 Garage 59 Chris Goodwin Côme Ledogar Alexander West Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Pro-Am 37 DNF DNF 2023 Team WRT Augusto Farfus Valentino Rossi BMW M4 GT3 Pro 322 6th 6th 2024 Team WRT Raffaele Marciello Valentino Rossi BMW M4 GT3 Pro 275 5th 5th 2025 Mercedes-AMG Team GMR Maro Engel Mikaël Grenier Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Pro 170 DNF DNF 2026 Mercedes-AMG Team GMR Maro Engel Mikaël Grenier Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Pro 2621st1st

Complete British GT Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 DC Points 2018 Jetstream Motorsport AMR Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 GT3 OUL1 OUL2 ROC1 SNE1 SNE2 SIL1 SPA1 BRH1 DON1 7th 77.5

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap) Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rank Points 2018–19 Aston Martin Racing LMGTE Pro Aston Martin Vantage AMR Aston Martin M177 4.0 L Turbo V8 SPA LMS SIL FUJ SHA SEB SPA LMS 8th 66 2019–20 Aston Martin Racing LMGTE Pro Aston Martin Vantage AMR Aston Martin M177 4.0 L Turbo V8 SIL FUJ SHA BHR COA SPA LMS BHR 2nd 160 2024 Team WRT LMGT3 BMW M4 GT3 BMW P58 3.0 L Turbo I6 QAT IMO SPA LMS SÃO COA FUJ BHR 6th 61 2025 Iron Lynx LMGT3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8 QAT IMO SPA LMS SÃO COA FUJ BHR 13th 39 2026 Iron Lynx LMGT3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8 IMO SPA LMS SÃO COA FUJ CAT MNZ 20th* 9* Season still in progress.

Complete 24 Hours of Daytona results

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap) Team Class Make Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Points 2014 BMW Team RLL GTLM BMW Z4 GTE BMW 4.4 L V8 DAY SEB LBH LGA WGL MOS IND ELK VIR COA PET 28th 33 2016 Turner Motorsport GTD BMW M6 GT3 BMW 4.4 L V8 DAY SEB LGA DET WGL MOS LIM ELK VIR COA PET 43rd 27 2017 Turner Motorsport GTD BMW M6 GT3 BMW 4.4 L V8 DAY SEB LBH COA DET WGL MOS LIM ELK VIR LGA PET 63rd 23 2022 Heart of Racing Team GTD Pro Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 Aston Martin 4.0 L Turbo V8 DAY SEB 22nd 436 GTD LBH LGA MDO DET WGL MOS LIM ELK VIR PET 11th 2137 2023 Paul Miller Racing GTD BMW M4 GT3 BMW P58 3.0 L Twin-Turbo I6 DAY SEB LBH LGA WGL MOS LIM ELK VIR IMS PET 55th 252 2024 BMW M Team RLL GTP BMW M Hybrid V8 BMW P66/3 4.0 L Turbo V8 DAY SEB LBH LGA DET WGL ELK IMS PET 20th 810 2025 GetSpeed GTD Pro Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8 DAY SEB LGA DET WGL MOS ELK VIR IMS PET 29th 280 2026 Winward Racing GTD Pro Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo Mercedes-AMG M159 6.2 L V8 DAY SEB LGA DET WGL MOS ELK VIR IMS PET 39th* 322* Season still in progress.

Complete European Le Mans Series results (key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Complete 24 Hours of Zolder results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 2009 VDS Racing Adventures Eric De Doncker Stéphane Lémeret Raphaël Van Der Straten Ford Mustang FR500 GT3 1 574 NC NC