Maxime Martin leaves BMW Motorsport

Maxime Martin is to leave BMW Motorsport after five years in search of a ‘new challenge’, leaving the manufacturer with a vacancy for the 2018 DTM season.

The 31-year old raced for both Team RMG and Team RBM during four seasons in the DTM, scoring three victories and three pole positions in the series.

His best championship result was seventh place in 2014 and 2015.

Martin, with a background in GT and endurance racing, also claimed several victories with BMW in GTs over the last few years, with the victory at the 2016 Spa 24 Hours as the highlight of their time together.

“It has definitely been a wonderful time with BMW, being there for five years as official BMW works driver,” said Martin. “I think without this everything maybe would have been different. But you sometimes need new challenges and changes so I decided to leave for a new challenge. I am looking forward to what awaits me but it was a great time with BMW and I want to thank everybody involved in it.”

BMW Motorsport director Jens Marquardt praised his already former driver: “On behalf of BMW Motorsport, I would like to thank Maxime Martin for his commitment over the past five years. It was always impressive to see how effortlessly he was able to switch between DTM and GT cars. We wish him all the best for the future.”

BMW Junior Programme drivers Joel Eriksson and Ricky Collard have already expressed their desire to compete in the DTM with the Bavarian manufacturer.