Maxime Martin has joined BMW's American Le Mans Series lineup for the coming season, as well as being named its DTM test driver.
The Belgian, who campaigned BMW machinery for several privateer teams last year, became a factory driver last December after testing a DTM car at Aragon, but has now had his program confirmed.
Martin will be one of four full-time drivers of the new Z4 GTEs in the ALMS by Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Bill Auberlen, Joey Hand and Dirk Muller will be the other three, although former Star Mazda and Atlantic Series champion John Edwards will substitute for Hand when the latter is on DTM duty in Europe.
Veteran BMW men Uwe Alzen and Jorg Muller will join the regular quartet of the Rahal Letterman Lanigan-run team's drivers for the Sebring 12 Hours and Petit Le Mans.
"All of us at BMW Team RLL are very excited about the 2013 season with the new BMW Z4 GTE,” said Bobby Rahal, team principal. “We had four great years with the BMW M3 GT and now want to compete on a par with our rivals with the BMW Z4 GTE as soon as possible.
"With any new car there is going to be a period of development, but we are excited about the upcoming season. This will be our fifth year with BMW and it's obvious we have a great working relationship. In fact, some of the members of the team are in Munich working side by side with BMW Motorsport building the cars. We share the same approach in terms of our desire to be successful and it's a real honor and privilege to represent BMW in motorsport.”
Team newcomer Martin finished second in last year's Blancpain Endurance Series with the Marc VDS squad and also won races in Germany's ADAC GT Masters series at the wheel of an Alpina B6 BMW. He replaces Marco Wittmann as DTM reserve, following the German's promotion to a race seat for 2013.