The highly competitive ADAC GT Masters championship 2012 called in on the Nürburgring this weekend for the second time this season, and as was the case in mid- July, the official Alpina B6 of Maxime Martin and Dino Lunardi clinched victory. It is true to say that contrary to previous rounds, at the Eifel the car was ballast free. ” I must admit that our car is ideally suited to this Nürburgring, Maxime explained. And this time around we were able to battle it out on an even keel. Outcome: Dino clocked up the 2nd best qualifying lap time with a view to the first race, whereas I grabbed the second pole … ” An even more impressive performance seeing Maxime is still suffering from a fractured rib experienced during a sports training session whilst on holiday. “We know that this is a fast track, so let’s hope that I don’t suffer too much during my 30 minutes stint … “

Held on Saturday the first of the two races saw Dino Lunardi take the lead, prior to handing over the drive to Maxime Martin. The latter then completed the assignment.. … « Dino performed brilliantly, and all I needed to do was to concentrate on the tyre wear and the overall performance of the car, whilst not forgetting to manage my lead over the pack, Maxime remarked and patted himself on the back. And as for my rib, it held, and victory was therein front of me! “

A victory that was obviously synonymous with a 30 kilos ballast for the Sunday round. ” I took the start, however the Corvette immediately got the better of me, the young Brussels-based driver explained. With this ballast on board I can assure you that the Mercedes were also faster, but I was able to hold my 2nd place, and this time it was Dino who confirmed the result. It was really the maximum we could have hoped for under these conditions. So all in all it was a good weekend and with always the possibility of clinching the title, in two weeks time, at Hockenheim.”

And it goes without saying that the Martine and Lunardi official Alpina B6 GT3 will be on the grid of the first of the two decisive races with maximum ballast. « I can clearly state that this won’t be easy, but who knows, the rain might put in an appearance to level out the performances of the cars?”

On another front Maxime Martin should be congratulated on having been invited by BMW Motorsport to take part, during the month of October on a Spanish circuit, for a test at the wheel of the M3 DTM. This is the first realisation of the exceptional performances by a Belgian driver on the international scene. We are keeping our fingers crossed, and already looking to 2013, and even further ahead.

Source : Maxime Martin