Martin: BMW’s “Longer Term Vision” Key Reason for Return

Maxime Martin says his decision to return to BMW’s factory driver roster was motivated by the Bavarian manufacturer’s ‘longer term vision on racing.’

The Belgian was announced in October to be returning to BMW to be part of its squad of factory drivers ahead of the 2023 season.

It will be his second stint with BMW, having previously served there between 2013-2017.

Highlights of that campaign included three race victories in DTM and the overall win in the 24 Hours of Spa alongside Philipp Eng and Alexander Sims in 2016.

He subsequently signed on with Aston Martin for 2018, winning the GTE-Pro class in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2020 and helping The Heart of Racing’s Roman De Angelis secure the GTD title in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, where his departure was announced at Petit Le Mans earlier this year.

When asked about his motivations to return to BMW, Martin downplayed the importance of a possible role with the LMDh program and instead pointed to other factors.

“I wouldn’t say LMDh is the key point to get back together,” Martin said. “I think it’s more having a future and a vision on longer term on racing.

“BMW M and BMW Motorsport is now more together and having a longer term vision I think is also part of coming back to a manufacturer which has a longer term vision on racing and sport.

“That was a key thing. For sure LMDh is part of this vision but not the key point.

“I think I left BMW for five years but always kept a good relationship. We were always in contact for the last five years, always seeing each other in the paddock and having a coffee and nice discussions with the other drivers.

“After five years now, we came to an agreement. I think it was good timing for BMW’s side and for my side to start to work together. I’m very happy to be back and I think we can have a great future.”

Martin remained tight-lipped on potential programs for the upcoming season, only hinting that he will contest several long-distance races.

“It’s not defined yet, to be fair,” he noted. “For sure it will be GT3 in a lot of different championships. It’s not totally defined where and in which races but for sure it will be a lot of endurance races.

“I’m very happy to be back. It’s nice to again see so many people I know in the factory. I know more or less all of the drivers.

“It’s nice to be back and it also an easy way to come back to a manufacturer you know.”

Eng “Wants To Build” GTP Effort

Eng, one of Martin’s co-driver during the 2016 Spa triumph, has been named as one of the full-season drivers in BMW M Team RLL’s GTP class effort in the 2023 WeatherTech Championship.

When asked if the Austrian would be open to a switch to the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2024 and beyond, Eng indicated that he would prefer to remain in North America for the foreseeable future.

“I think it would make sense if I stay there [IMSA] for at least the next two years,” Eng said.

“First of all, we are fighting for victories and the championship, but on the other hand you want to build something. Especially when the program is pretty new, I think stability in terms of people is very important.

“I really don’t know what BMW’s plan is for me, but if I could make a wish it would be doing that for two years.”

The former DTM race winner said he’d like to dovetail his GTP commitments with an effort in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup.

“A GT3 program –  I would really like to have one,” Eng added. “I really enjoy the racing there, but it’s not decided.

“The dates would work pretty well. Not with DTM, but it would work pretty well with GT World Challenge Endurance. But nothing is fixed yet.”

Additionally, Eng still holds out hope for winning the Nürburgring 24, one of the major endurance classics still eluding the 32-year-old.

“It’s incredible. I’m trying since 2016, but it has never gone right,” he said. “I really want to win that one. This and Le Mans. Those would be the big ones.”