Maxime Martin's three 24 hours races in a row

Since his transfer as new Works driver for Mercedes-AMG, Maxime Martin started his GT3 program with Bathurst 12 hours in the frame of the Intercontinental GT championship, drove the #61 Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO in FIA WEC LMGT3 championship and participate to the endurance and sprint races of the GT World Challenge Europe with #9 Boutsen VDS Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (left) #61 Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG LMGT3; at Zandvoort Sprint race (right) #9 Boutsen VDS Mercedes-AMG GT3

This month is very intense for Maxime with three 24 Hours races in a row. The 24 Hours of Le Mans was completed successfully 10 days ago, the 24 Hours of Nürburgring saw his car abandoning and Maxime is looking to renew his victory 10 years ago at the 24 Hours of Spa next weekend.

The ADAC Ravenol 24h Nürburgring Mediateam interviewed Maxime Martin ahead of the three 24 hours races as follow.

Do you have a special strategy for recovery?

Maxime Martin: ”To be honest, none in particular. I just try to use all my experience to recover in the best possible way. Relax when I can. Eat enough and drink a lot - no beer! Seriously, you have to be as well hydrated as possible, eat well, sleep well. And thatstarts before the events - you have to be fit and rested beforehand. For me personally, there's also the fact that I drive a race every weekend before and after. These three 24-hour races are in the middle of maybe ten or eleven race weekends - that's high-performance sport.”

📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Le Mans (left) #61 Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG LMGT3; at 24 Hours of Nürburgring (center) #14 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG GT3; at Spa-Francorchamps Test Days #9 Boutsen VDS Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO

What is the biggest difference between the three races?

Maxime Martin: ”They are all very different. Le Mans - because of the track and the typeof racing - is the most famous in the world. The atmosphere there is great. But as I drive in LMGT3, we are the slowest cars there. We fight in our class, but we constantly have to look behind because the hypercars are coming and with a very big difference in speed. At the Nürburgring, it's the other way round - we're the fastest cars there. So we have constant traffic in front of us. I would say that the Nürburgring is probably the toughest race. Because of the track itself, the traffic and the changeable conditions. The track is so long that you can have dry and wet sections at the same time. You're always on the wrong tyre. That makes it very demanding - mentally as well. Spa is - I think - the most intense race when it comes to the duels. It's like a sprint with over 70 GT3 cars. That's where the racing is at its closest. But each of these races has its own peculiarities - that's the great thing!“

And do you go straight from Le Mans to the Ring and then on to Spa-Francorchamps? Or do you have a break?

Maxime Martin: ”No, I'm lucky - I live in Belgium not far from the Nürburgring and Spa. So I always have one or two days at home. Whereby ‘at home’ is not always synonymous with ‘break’ - I have three children who want to see their dad sometimes! But we manage that. It's good to recharge the batteries - with the family and the children. We travel a lot throughout the year, and then a short break at home, a day or two, doing something completely different - that also help.”

¨Previous articles about Maxime Martin

📷 © Luc Warnotte at 12 Hours of Sebring 2022. Maxime Martin from WEC to IMSA with Aston Martin Racing

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Nürburgring N24 2022. Maxime Martin embracing the future of electric car racing

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Nürburgring NLS3 2022. Maxime Martin and the Major 24 hours races

📷 © Luc Warnotte at 24 Hours of Spa 2014. Maxime Martin: When it effectively started