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 Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position 2007 French Formula Renault 2.0 Boutsen Ginion Racing 2 0 0 0 0 0 35th Eurocup Mégane Trophy Boutsen Energy Racing 13 1 2 1 4 85 3rd 2008 FIA GT Championship - GT2 Belgian Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0† NC† FIA GT3 European Championship Auto GT Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC Eurocup Mégane Trophy Boutsen Energy Racing 14 6 2 1 10 154 2nd Renault Clio Cup France 14 ? ? ? ? 117 1st2009 FIA GT3 European Championship Auto GT Racing 12 1 0 0 2 23 16th ADAC GT Masters Alpina 2 2 0 0 2 0† NC†2010 FIA GT1 World Championship Marc VDS Racing Team 20 0 0 0 2 54 14th FIA GT3 European Championship 3 0 0 0 0 12 28th2011 FIA GT1 World Championship Marc VDS Racing Team 20 4 3 0 5 98 6th Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro Cup 5 2 1 0 3 69 5th FIA GT3 European Championship Team LMP Motorsport 12 0 0 0 3 81 7th 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP1 Kronos Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 7th2012 FIA GT1 World Championship Valmon Racing Team Russia 6 0 0 0 0 0 28th ADAC GT Masters Alpina 16 3 2 3 5 134 4th Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro Cup Marc VDS Racing Team 6 2 1 0 3 111 2nd 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 4th 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 OAK Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 7th2013 American Le Mans Series - GT BMW Team RLL 9 1 0 0 1 86 6th Rolex Sports Car Series - GT Turner Motorsport 2 0 0 0 1 46 46th FIA GT Series Marc VDS Racing 2 0 0 0 0 0† NC† Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro Cup 5 1 0 0 2 71 3rd 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 2nd 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 TDS Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF2014 United SportsCar Championship - GTLM BMW Team RLL 1 0 0 0 1 33 28th Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters BMW Team RMG 10 1 0 0 1 47 7th Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro Cup BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF2015 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters BMW Team RMG 18 1 1 1 3 94 7th Blancpain Endurance Series - Pro Cup BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS 2 0 0 0 1 33 9th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 2nd Blancpain Sprint Series BMW Sports Trophy Team Brasil 2 1 1 1 2 31 14th2016 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Turner Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 27 43rd Stock Car Brasil Championship TMG Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0† NC† Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters BMW Team RBM 18 0 0 0 2 90 8th Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Rowe Racing 2 1 0 0 1 55 5th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 5th Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup Boutsen Ginion 2 0 0 0 0426th Rowe Racing 2 0 0 0 02017 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Turner Motorsport 1 0 0 0 0 23 63rd Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters BMW Team RBM 18 1 1 0 4 132 8th Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Rowe Racing 4 0 0 0 0 6 27th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 10th2018 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup R-Motorsport 5 0 1 0 0 13 32nd British GT Championship - GT3 Jetstream Motorsport AMR 9 1 0 0 2 77.5 7th 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro Aston Martin Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 13th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9-LG 1 1 0 0 1 N/A1st 2018–19 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Pro Aston Martin Racing 8 1 0 0 1 66 8th2019 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup R-Motorsport 5 0 0 0 0 1 34th 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro Aston Martin Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 12th ADAC GT Masters PROpeak Performance 6 0 0 0 0 13 31st2019–20 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGTE Pro Aston Martin Racing 8 1 0 0 5 160 2nd2020 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Garage 59 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro Aston Martin Racing 1 0 0 0 1 N/A1st 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Frikadelli Racing Team 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 7th2021 Asian Le Mans Series - GT Garage 59 4 0 0 0 1 35 5th 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGTE Pro HubAuto Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup KCMG 1 0 0 0 0 12 19th Oman Racing Team with TF Sport 1 0 0 0 0 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Frikadelli Racing Team 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF2022 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro Heart of Racing Team 2 0 0 0 0 436 22nd IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD 9 2 0 0 4 2137 11th GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Beechdean AMR 3 0 0 1 0 6 30th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 TF Sport 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF2023 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Paul Miller Racing 1 0 0 0 0 252 55th GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Team WRT 5 0 0 0 0 13 15th GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup 10 1 1 0 3 50 5th Intercontinental GT Challenge 4 0 0 0 1 39 12th 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 Rowe Racing 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 2nd 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMP2 Pro-Am DKR Engineering 1 0 0 0 1 N/A 3rd2024 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTP BMW M Team RLL 3 0 0 0 0 810 20th FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGT3 Team WRT 8 0 0 0 2 61 6th 24 Hours of Le Mans - LMGT3 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup 5 0 0 0 0 34 9th GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup 4 1 1 0 2 27 8th Intercontinental GT Challenge 2 0 0 0 0 24 10th Rowe Racing 1 0 0 0 0 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 7th2025 FIA World Endurance Championship - LMGT3 Iron Lynx 8 0 0 0 1 39 13th IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro GetSpeed 1 0 0 0 0 280 29th GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Boutsen VDS 5 0 0 0 0 1 27th GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup 10 0 0 0 0 17.5 10th Intercontinental GT Challenge Mercedes-AMG Team GMR 2 0 0 0 0 6 28th Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed 1 0 0 0 0 Boutsen VDS 1 0 0 0 0 Mercedes-AMG Team Lone Star Racing 1 0 1 0 0 2026 IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro Winward Racing 1 0 0 0 1 322 33rdNürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - SP9Mercedes-AMG Team Ravenol24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP911001N/A 1stFIA World Endurance Championship - LMGT3Iron Lynx 6 0 0 2 0 17 19th*GT World Challenge Europe Endurance CupMercedes-AMG Team GetSpeedEuropean Le Mans Series - LMGT3Team Qatar by Iron Lynx 1 0 1 0 0 1 20th*24H Series - GT3GetSpeed Team PCX Racing101002333rd 2026–27 Asian Le Mans Series – GT Team Qatar by Iron Lynx * * † 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