When Maxime Martin competes in the first race of the 2019 ADAC GT Masters in Oschersleben, Germany, at the end of April, he does not enter uncharted territory. Five victories have already been recorded for the Belgian in this high-profile GT3 racing series, beside two pole positions. The successes come from 2012, plus a victory as a guest participant in 2009. “I have very good memories of the ADAC GT Masters and look forward to racing in Germany again,” says the 33-year-old, who also spent four years in the DTM.
Together with record winner Daniel Keilwitz (Germany), with 22 wins lonely on top of the statistics, Maxime Martin shares the cockpit of an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 from the team of PROpeak Performance. “The ADAC GT Masters has become a very professional and high-level racing series. Our goal must be to collect many points and avoid accidents – that’s the key,” says Martin, who as an Aston Martin factory driver mainly competes in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
The Vantage GT3 and the team are new to the ADAC GT Masters. “It’s the first year for PROpeak Performance, but they have a lot of experience. We will work together and improve together”, says Martin, who did the first laps of the first PROpeak Vantage GT3 at the Nürburgring last week. “That was a good start. The new Vantage has a lot of potential, a lot of downforce and a very good engine. That makes the Vantage very reliable and fast.”
Looking at the successes of his teammate, Maxime Martin, born on 20 March 1986 in Uccle, Belgium, has great respect. “The list of wins by Daniel Keilwitz is impressive. I look forward to working with him. We will find a good compromise in the cars setting, I’m sure. Only together we are strong.” Maxime Martin, whose father Jean-Michael won four-times the 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps, looks forward to the season with great anticipation in the ADAC GT Masters:” We cannot expect much at the beginning, because much is new. But we will learn fast and a lot and increase together. And then it would be nice to be at the top of the podium during the season.”