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Race report

Excellent race for Max Martin at 12 Hours of Sebring

A perfect introduction for Maxime Martin

#55 BMW Team RLL BMW Z4 GTE: Bill Auberlen, Maxime Martin, Jörg Müller

#55 BMW Team RLL BMW Z4 GTE: Bill Auberlen, Maxime Martin, Jörg Müller

Eric Gilbert

Last Saturday Maxime Martin competed in his first race in the American Le Mans Series 2013, the legendary 12 Hours of Sebring, at the wheel of the brand new BMW Z4 GTE entered by Bobby Rahal’s BMW Team RLL. And the outcome of this race was an excellent 4th place in category and points scored. Definitely a good omen for the future …

“As was expected, up against cars that have in some cases been present in ALMS for several seasons, we were somewhat on a back footing, Maxime explained. However a disadvantage that luckily was not noticeable in the race, where yellow flags and otherneutralisations allowed for the levelling out of performances. As such we managed to remain in the same lap as the leaders. But this does not mean that everything was that easy … “

#55 BMW Team RLL BMW Z4 GTE: Bill Auberlen, Maxime Martin, Jörg Müller
#55 BMW Team RLL BMW Z4 GTE: Bill Auberlen, Maxime Martin, Jörg Müller

Photo by: Eric Gilbert

A slight accident of Jörg Müller, one of Maxime’s teammates, with a Proto resulted in a loss of frontal aerodynamic efficiency, the splitter having been damaged. ”We didn’t experience any major problems up until three hours from the finish, the RACB National Team driver continued. It was then that the power steering broke, but we managed to continue the race without this vital assistance. Wealternated with half relay stints with my teammates Jörg Müller ad Bill Auberlen, as it was impossible for our arms to hold out longer than that. Sebring definitely is not the ideal track to race under these conditions …

“ Notwithstanding that the result is more than positive for a first outing with the Z4 GTE… “ We have scored valuable points in the championship and my integration into the BMW Team RLL went without a hitch. Overall the assessment is heartening, and I can’t wait to find myself in the streets of Long Beach, where the second round of the ALMS 2013 will take place in a month’s time. After that race we’ll take advantage of a new development session … “

This coming weekend Maxime, who has just travelled back to Europe, will be heading off to the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife for the first race of the VLN 2013 competition. The opportunity for the BMW Motorsport driver to be back with the Marc VDS Racing team, who will be entering two Z4 GT3 for the event. “At this moment in time I don’t know who my teammates will be, but one thing for sure is the fact that more then ever the team has the potential to perform brilliantly on the big Nürburgring. However let’s not forget that the Nordschleife is and remains the Nordschleife… “, Maxime Martin concluded…

Maxime Martin

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