BMW Media Site #55: Maxime Martin. Profile, Career, Interview.  Contact: Thomas  Plucinsky thomas.plucinsky@bmwna.com   Matthew  Russell (201) 307-3783 (office) Matthew.Russell@bmwna.com   Bill  Cobb billcobbcommunications@yahoo.com     #55: Maxime Martin. Profile, Career, Interview.  Born: 20th March 1986 in Uccle (BE)Residence: Brussels (BE)Marital status: SingleWebsite: www.maxmartin.beProfile.Maxime Martin managed to do something very special in 2012: he made the jump from winning the BMW Sports Trophy as a private driver to getting offered a place as a BMW works driver. The Belgian certainly knew how to impress in the Blancpain Endurance Series, which he only just missed out on winning with Bas Leinders (BE) and Markus Palttala (FI). Driving a BMW Z4 GT3, the trio won the first two races of the season and ended up in second place in the overall rankings. The trio also secured fourth place in the legendary 24-hour race at the Nürburgring (DE).The son of former BMW driver Jean-Michel Martin (BE) was also able to celebrate success in the ADAC GT Masters in a BMW ALPINA B6 GT3. His strong 2012 results won him second place in the BMW Sports Trophy ranking – and then landed him a contract as a works driver in 2013. Martin will drive the whole series in the ALMS in 2013. At the same time, he will also be BMW Motorsport’s test and development driver for its DTM programme. He successfully completed testing in a BMW M3 DTM in 2012.Career.2005 -  1st place Mini Cooper World Cup2006 - 4th place Formula Renault 1.62007 - 3rd place Eurocup Megane Trophy2008 - 1st place French Renault Clio Cup2nd place Eurocup Megane Trophy2009 - 1st place G3 class 24h race Spa2010 - 14th place FIA GT1 World Championship2nd place GT3 class 24h race Spa2011 - 6th place FIA GT1 World Championship2012 - 2nd place Blancpain Endurance Series4th place ADAC GT MastersInterview.Maxime, in 2013 you’ll be racking up a whole load of air miles as a permanent driver in the ALMS and as a test and development driver for the DTM. Are you looking forward to these new experiences?Maxime Martin: “Yes, very much so. Because I’m still living in Europe and will be travelling to every race in North America, I’ll definitely be spending a lot of time in planes, and at the start the jetlag could be something I’ll have to get used to. But I’ll take it as it comes, I’m sure I’ll get along with it just fine. I’m really looking forward to this new challenge.”Who are your idols?Martin: “First and foremost is my father. He was a racing driver himself. He took part in the 1989 DTM season for BMW Motorsport and won the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring in 1992 in a BMW M3. He was also able to win the Spa 24 Hours four times. He took me with him to the racetrack when I was a kid. That allowed me to have contact with motorsport from a very early age. My father is a BMW dealer in Brussels today. I worked with him in the dealership myself until last year.”What are your goals as a BMW works driver?Martin: “I’ve already achieved my first big goal. I always wanted to be a works driver, and I’ve succeeded. Now I’m really looking forward to the ALMS and will try to win races and championships for BMW.”