PressClub South Africa · Article.
BMW Motorsport News – Issue 29/16.
Mon Aug 01 16:05:00 CEST 2016 Press Release
Archive
Maxime Martin: "It's the best win of my life."
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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.