Endurance
Maxime Martin Monza race report
Maxime Martin
Edited: Apr 18, 2012, 12:22 AM
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Maxime Martin’s never ending success story with the BMW Z4 Marc VDS Racing !
Winner Maxime Martin
Photo by: Ed Fahey
With no less than 57 muscle cars entered, all meeting the FIA GT3 norms, everyone was in anticipation for this first round of the Blancpain Endurance Series 2012 on the Monza circuit. In the Marc VDS Racing clan, the main objective was to score a maximum number of points, taking into account the fact that the rectilinear configuration of the Italian track was not favoured by the BMW Z4 GT3, whose engine is not the most powerful of those on the grid. An 18th best lap time, as set by Maxime Martin, Bas Leinders and Markus Palttala fully confirmed this fact.
Yes, but … If on the one hand the qualifying sessions took place on a dry track, Sunday’s 3 hour race was hit by atrocious rainstorms which hit the Milan region. And in these climatic conditions the difference of potential between the power beasts was partially eliminated. This was enough for the top running Marc VDS Racing’s BMW Z4 to work it’s way through some of the other major top competitors. « This race was a total success, even though we must admit that this rain did give us a helping hand, Maxime explained. Bas and Markus carried out great relay stints, without making any mistakes, and as per usual the team excelled during the various pit stops. When I took over the wheel, for the final third of the race, I was between 8th and 10th place. And then I went into the attack … »
Words are lacking to describe the following minutes, as Maxime Martin produced an incredible feat by overtaking all his competitors to grab the lead! « In fact with more than 50 cars on the track, one is consistently overtaking, and one never really knows where one is in the hierarchy, Maxime continued. Via my radio I asked where I was in the rankings, and the team replied: 1st with a 5 seconds lead! Super… »
It was finally with more than 17 seconds that Martin took the chequered flag, confirming the Marc VDS Racing’s BMW Z4 invincibility since last autumn on the Blancpain Endurance Series front. Impressive! « I’m delighted with this win, especially for the whole team. It would probably have been quite different on a dry track, but it can’t take away our overall joy … »
Next week the FIA GT1 World Championship will be calling in on Belgium, more specifically at Circuit Zolder. Following the excellent lap times set during the first round at Nogaro last weekend the Valmon Racing Team Russia, which is entering several Aston Martin DBRS9 shortly to become Vantage GT3, confirmed that Maxime Martin would be on hand for his ‘race on home soil’. Notwithstanding the fact that the DBRS9 is not one of the most recent cars on the grid, the fact is that this Limburg circuit holds no secrets for the young Belgian driver. Fingers crossed …
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