Martin and Da Costa, BMW's new weapons in DTM

Maxime Martin and Antonio Félix da Costa were promoted to BMW regular drivers in DTM in place of Andy Priaulx and Dirk Werner. The Belgian and the Portuguese will join the list of eight drivers from the Propeller brand who will compete in the German Touring Car Championship with the new M4 DTM. “After an impressive year as a test and development driver, Maxime Martin is ready to prove his worth in DTM”, comments Jens Marquardt, director of BMW Motorsport. “He proved during the DTM tests and during his outings with the Z4 GT3 that he would be a significant added value to our crew. As for Antonio Félix da Costa, he convinced us that he was a talented driver during his tests with the M3 DTM and throughout his career in car."

The Belgian will be one to watch very closely next year after impressing the different disciplines in which he competed. The 27-year-old driver notably finished runner-up to the Blancpain Endurance Series last year and took second place in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring with Marc VDS Racing. The Brussels native also competed in the last season of the ALMS, even taking a category victory with Bill Auberlen in Long Beach. “It was my goal to use this year as a test driver and development driver to get closer to a DTM drive and I am very proud to have achieved it”, confides Maxime Martin.

Antonio Félix da Costa is still part of the Red Bull Junior Team even if it was Daniil Kvyat who took the wheel left free by Daniel Ricciardo in Toro Rosso. The Portuguese failed to convince Dr Helmut Marko after a lackluster season spent in Formula Renault 3.5 Series. But the Portuguese has very significant potential which has not escaped BMW. “It’s an honor for me to drive for such a great manufacturer as BMW”, comments the young 22-year-old pilot. “It will be a new experience to go from single-seater to touring car, but the cars are fantastic to drive. The DTM is a high-level discipline and I can't wait to compete in it. »

BMW Motorsport has chosen to place Andy Priaulx within Team RLL to compete in the new USCC resulting from the merger between ALMS and Grand-Am, including the provisional entry list has just been published. “The DTM was a fantastic experience for me. I had some great moments there, including my third place on the grid for the final at Hockenheim”, declares the Briton who will have played two seasons in the German Championship. “However, I didn't manage to get on the podium. This is something I want to achieve regularly with BMW Team RLL in USCC. I still know the staff from my victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2011 and I'm looking forward to it. »

Dirk Werner will also join the BMW Motorsport Endurance program, notably participating in the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring. “I spent two great years with BMW Team Schnitzer and I will always remember these memories. I'm obviously disappointed not to be racing in the DTM anymore, but it's still nice to still be part of the BMW family. Endurance was my domain before I went to DTM and I'm looking forward to seeing some familiar faces again”, adds the double champion of the GT category in Grand-Am.