Martin and BMW part ways

BMW M Motorsport has revealed that 38-year-old Belgian driver Maxime Martin has decided to part ways with the German brand ahead of the 2025 racing season to “pursue new challenges.”

This decision marks the end of a long association between Martin and BMW, which began when he made a name for himself in the BMW M Sports Trophy before being promoted to the brand’s works driver stable back in 2013. He initially competed as a regular for BMW M Team RLL in the American Le Mans Series and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship before racing into DTM from 2014-17.

In 2016, he celebrated victory at his home race, the Spa 24 Hours, driving a ROWE Racing BMW M6 GT3. Two years later he moved to Aston Martin to take up a role in its factory GTE (winning Le Mans in 2020) and customer GT3 programs, before returning to BMW in 2023.

Over the past two years, driving the M4 GT3, Martin’s highlights include a podium at the 2023 Nurburgring 24 Hours and two years racing alongside Valentino Rossi in GT World Challenge Europe, which also included a 2024 FIA WEC LMGT3 campaign with Ahmad Al Harthy. This was complemented by IMSA Weathertech Championship GTP appearances with BMW Team RLL at Daytona, Sebring and Petit Le Mans in the M Hybrid V8 this year.

“BMW M Motorsport has played a significant role in my career from the very beginning, and I look back fondly on everything we achieved together – from my first successes in DTM and 24-hour races to the recent victories with the BMW M4 GT3,” Martin said.

“I am very grateful for the time we spent together and for my seven years as a BMW M works driver. I wish BMW M Motorsport great success in the future, and the brand will always remain a part of me. But now it’s time for me to take on new challenges.”

Andreas Roos the head of BMW Motorsport added: “On behalf of the entire BMW M Motorsport family, I would like to thank Maxime Martin for the many years we have spent together.

"He began his successful career in the BMW M Sports Trophy and was a key and integral part of our works driver line-up for a long time. During these years, he was one of the defining faces of our programs and we fondly remember the successes we achieved together in both endurance and sprint racing. However, we value not only his sporting skills but also his wonderful personality. He has been a tremendous asset to the BMW M Motorsport family in every aspect.

“We wish Maxime all the best for his future and look forward to seeing him again, though as a competitor, but still as a friend.”