MotorSports
May 8, 2025
  • Motorsports News
  • Formula 1
  • IndyCar
  • NASCAR
  • Rally
  • SportsCars
  • Touring
  • WEC
Font ResizerAa
MotorSportsMotorSports
Search
  • Categories
  • Forums
  • More Foxiz
    • Blog Index
    • Sitemap
Sign In Sign In
Follow US
Made by ThemeRuby using the Foxiz theme. Powered by WordPress
The lesser-trodden path Martin is taking in becoming a member of Mercedes-AMG
WEC

The lesser-trodden path Martin is taking in becoming a member of Mercedes-AMG

By Miles Cooper December 16, 2024
SHARE
- Advertisement -

Following final week’s announcement of his departure from BMW for a second time, embellished sportscar racer Maxime Martin’s transfer to Mercedes-AMG was introduced over the weekend.

“I’m extraordinarily pleased to begin a complete new chapter of my racing historical past along with the Mercedes AMG Motorsport household,” the Belgian wrote on social media. 

“Becoming a member of the group as #MercedesAMG Efficiency Driver from 2025 will likely be thrilling and I’m positive that collectively we will obtain nice issues. The journey forward will likely be stuffed with challenges, however I’m prepared and desperate to face them. 

“Can’t wait to get to work to contribute to the group’s successes and be part of forces to attain our objectives, constructing nice moments on monitor.”

Martin’s probably first outing in his new surroundings will come on the Daytona 24 Hours in January, after buyer squad Getspeed introduced that he can be a part of its GTD Professional line-up alongside Anthony Bartone, Luca Stolz and Fabian Schiller.

The lesser-trodden path Martin is taking in becoming a member of Mercedes-AMG

#2 M-AMG Group GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO: Jules Gounon, Fabian Schiller, Luca Stolz

Picture by: Eric Le Galliot

For the 2016 Spa 24 Hours conqueror and 2020 Le Mans 24 Hours GTE Professional class winner throughout a stint at Aston Martin, becoming a member of Mercedes-AMG for a programme that can embody racing for brand spanking new accomplice squad Iron Lynx within the World Endurance Championship is an intriguing transfer that bucks a notable pattern.

The final time a BMW driver joined Mercedes-AMG was Lucas Auer in 2021, the Austrian rejoining the model after only one season when the DTM’s Class 1 period collapsed and it turned obvious there have been no seats on the desk for him to proceed into its GT3 period.

Maybe extra considerably, though Mercedes-AMG is returning to Le Mans for the primary time since 1999 subsequent 12 months with its Iron Lynx LMGT3 class entry, it presently does not have a Hypercar programme.

BMW is among the many rising variety of manufacturers that do, and Martin was a part of the Bavarian marque’s endurance line-up within the IMSA SportsCar Championship in 2024, contesting Daytona, the Sebring 12 Hours and Petit Le Mans with its RLL-run GTP group.

Though Jules Gounon stays contracted to Mercedes-AMG, his announcement as a part of Alpine’s full-season WEC roster for subsequent 12 months follows the pattern of drivers looking for alternatives to go for outright victory within the largest endurance races.

That additionally goes some solution to explaining why Raffaele Marciello departed the Mercedes fold on the finish of 2023 to hitch BMW.

Beneath the management of Andreas Roos, BMW has turn out to be a hotbed of expertise lately, with Kevin Magnussen its newest high-profile signing after departing the Haas System 1 group.

From a crowded scene at BMW, the place he spent the final two years in GT World Problem Europe Dash alongside Valentino Rossi, Martin’s expertise suggests he’s set to occupy a central position in Mercedes-AMG buyer racing boss Stefan Wendl’s plans. 

#25 BMW Team RLL BMW M Hybrid V8: Maxime Martin

#25 BMW Group RLL BMW M Hybrid V8: Maxime Martin

Picture by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Pictures

The 38-year-old, whose first stint at BMW counted three DTM wins between 2014 and 2017, is bound to be an asset because the producer devises a successor for its present GT3, which began life in 2016, by the newly established Affalterbach Racing GmbH firm. 

Alongside Gounon, Martin can be amongst a minority of Mercedes drivers with Hypercar expertise, which might play in his favour ought to its LMGT3 entry flip into one thing extra within the years to come back. 

Mercedes has acknowledged {that a} provisional roster of 10 drivers “will regularly be prolonged”. Maro Engel, Maxi Gotz, Ralf Aron, Philip Ellis and Mikael Grenier have been formally retained, together with Gounon, Stolz and Schiller, whereas Australian younger gun Jayden Ojeda has signed as a junior driver.

Motorsport.com’s sister title Motorsport-Whole understands that Auer has not but signed his contract and has due to this fact not been formally introduced as a Mercedes-AMG works driver for 2025. However as issues stand, it’s assumed that the 2024 GT World Problem Europe Dash Cup champion alongside Engel will keep.

Martin’s team-mates at Iron Lynx within the WEC have but to be introduced.

“I’ve all the time held Maxime in very excessive regard,” stated group principal Andrea Piccini.

“Now we have a pleasant relationship, and we additionally had the prospect to race collectively in 2013, ending second within the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring. He is a extremely sturdy driver, extraordinarily fast, and notably in a position to grasp difficult circumstances.

“I’ve seen him do distinctive issues all through the years with none errors, which makes him a high contender, particularly in long-distance races. If we add his expertise and team-player potential, I truthfully suppose he is among the finest choices for any group, and I am proud to welcome him to Iron Lynx for the 2025 season.”

Learn Additionally:

In the meantime, one other BMW departure introduced in latest days is Bruno Spengler, who received the DTM title for the model in 2012. 

The Canadian 41-year-old, who joined BMW from Mercedes, had been introduced as the pinnacle of its new junior programme final month. 

“It was not a simple resolution for me to go away the BMW M Motorsport household, however I’m at some extent in my profession the place a brand new problem with a long-term perspective was vital to me,” he stated. “That is why I made a decision to take this step.”

On this article

James Newbold

GT

WEC

IMSA

Be the primary to know and subscribe for real-time information electronic mail updates on these subjects

Subscribe to information alerts

- Advertisement --
TAGGED:joininglessertroddenMartinMercedesAMGpath
Previous Article Tsunoda claims he “impressed” Purple Bull in key F1 check forward of 2025 driver name Tsunoda claims he “impressed” Purple Bull in key F1 check forward of 2025 driver name
Next Article The lesser-trodden path Martin is taking in becoming a member of Mercedes-AMG The lesser-trodden path Martin is taking in becoming a member of Mercedes-AMG
Leave a Comment Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


- Advertisement -
Excitement builds for Porsche’s WEC debut in Qatar 2025 – flatsixes
Excitement builds for Porsche’s WEC debut in Qatar 2025 – flatsixes
WEC
F1 star Jack Doohan ‘consoled’ by motorsport legend as Alpine axe looms – GPFans
F1 star Jack Doohan ‘consoled’ by motorsport legend as Alpine axe looms – GPFans
Formula 1
Shock Departure: Rodney Childers Leaves Spire Motorsports After Just Nine Races!
Shock Departure: Rodney Childers Leaves Spire Motorsports After Just Nine Races!
NASCAR
Essential Tips for Thriving as a Rally Spectator!
Essential Tips for Thriving as a Rally Spectator!
Rally
Revving Up Success: 10 Drivers Who Thrived in Sports Cars After F1
Revving Up Success: 10 Drivers Who Thrived in Sports Cars After F1
SportsCars
Revving Up the Future: Touring Car Championships Embrace a Turbocharged Transformation!
Revving Up the Future: Touring Car Championships Embrace a Turbocharged Transformation!
Touring

Categories

Archives

December 2024
MTWTFSS
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031 
« Nov   Jan »

You Might Also Like

Aston Martin reveals launch plan for 2025 F1 challenger
Formula 1

Aston Martin reveals launch plan for 2025 F1 challenger

By Miles Cooper February 5, 2025
Alonso prepared to just accept lack of Aston Martin progress in 2025
Formula 1

Alonso prepared to just accept lack of Aston Martin progress in 2025

By Miles Cooper December 12, 2024
Porsche tweaks Imola WEC driver line-up to prepare for Le Mans
WEC

Porsche tweaks Imola WEC driver line-up to prepare for Le Mans

By Caleb Wilson March 29, 2025
Toyota and Ferrari given BoP break for WEC Bahrain finale
WEC

Toyota and Ferrari given BoP break for WEC Bahrain finale

By Miles Cooper October 30, 2024
Porsche reveals final Hypercar driver for 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours
WEC

Porsche reveals final Hypercar driver for 2025 Le Mans 24 Hours

By Charlotte Adams April 11, 2025
WEC Bahrain: Peugeot tops closing follow in season finale weekend
WEC

WEC Bahrain: Peugeot tops closing follow in season finale weekend

By Miles Cooper November 1, 2024

MotorSports-News

@2024 – All Right Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?