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BMW Motorsport News – Issue 29/16.
Mon Aug 01 09:59:21 CEST 2016 Δελτίο τύπου
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Maxime Martin: "It's the best win of my life."
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Author.
Konstantinos Diamantis
BMW Group
BMW Motorsport News – Issue 29/16.
Whether in the DTM, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar
Championship, or countless other championships: week
after week BMW teams and drivers around the world do
battle for points, victories and titles. Away from the
track too, members of the large BMW Motorsport family
around the world are also creating headlines. The “BMW
Motorsport News” allows us to regularly summarise all
the action for you in a compact and informative
manner. This way, you are always up to speed.
24 Hours Spa: BMW triumphs at the 24 Hours
of Spa-Francorchamps.
Maxime Martin (BE), Alexander Sims (GB) and
Philipp Eng (AT) won the 24-hour race in
Spa-Francorchamps (BE) for ROWE Racing. It was the
first win for the BMW M6 GT3 on its first appearance
in the Ardennes. Martin had to wait a while for his
first victory at his home event: This was the tenth
time that he had contested one of the most important
GT3 races of the season. With the win, he followed
in the footsteps of his father Jean-Michel, who also
won the 24-hour race at the "Circuit de
Spa-Francorchamps" for BMW. Speaking in an
interview, Maxime Martin reveals the significance of
this success in his career as a racing driver.
Three questions for... Maxime Martin.
Maxime, congratulations on your win at the
24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. The race means a
great deal to you and your family. How does it
feel to win here?
Maxime Martin: "I've dreamed of being
successful here since I was a child. But I've
usually been unlucky in the 24-hour race. Which is
why I am over the moon to have finally won. It is
the seventh win for my family, which is really
impressive. I still can't quite believe that I did
it. Naturally, as a Belgian it is very special to
me. The fans here were fantastic once again. Each
year it is incredible to see how many spectators are
here, how much they know about motorsport and how
much they love this sport and this race in
particular. To win in front of a crowd like this
feels really good. I'll remember this feeling for a
very long time."
How significant is this win in your career?
How significant is this win in your career?
Martin: "It is the best win of my life. I
have already enjoyed success in the DTM, but this
here is another absolute highlight. This is the race
I have contested most often. I came here with my
father as a young child, and now I was able to
emulate him – and with extremely fierce competition.
The 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is my favourite
race, even more so now than before. Standing on the
podium, lifting up the cup and looking into the
crowd is incredible. I will definitely cherish these
memories. It's superb."
While we're talking about family: You're getting married soon and are becoming a father for the first time. How are you approaching this new phase of your life?
While we're talking about family: You're getting married soon and are becoming a father for the first time. How are you approaching this new phase of your life?
Martin: "Naturally it is very important to
me. My family means a great deal to me. Now that I
am starting my own family, this feeling has been
enhanced. Maybe there will be more racing drivers
from the Martin family in the future. If I ever
experience a day as a father like the one I
experienced with my father today, I will be a very
happy man. I have always had my whole family and
close friends around me throughout my career to
date, and having them here today was very important
to me."
--
BTCC: Podium success for the BMW 125i M
Sport in Snetterton.
The West Surrey Racing team remains on the road
to success in the British Touring Car Championship
(BTCC). Rob Collard (GB) celebrated a spot on the
podium with his BMW 125i M Sport in Snetterton (GB)
at the sixth race weekend of the season. He narrowly
missed out on the podium when he finished in fourth
in the second race, but crossed the finish line in
second place in the final race of the weekend. He
finished 16th in the first race. His team-mate Sam
Tordoff (GB) finished seventh and eighth, before
suffering a retirement. Jack Goff (GB) in the third
BMW 125i M Sport finished in eleventh and 13th
place. He also retired early in one race.