Aston Martin Racing has announced that former BMW works driver Maxime Martin is set to join its roster of drivers for the 2018/19 FIA WEC ‘Super Season’, just days after it was announced that the 31-year-old Belgian would be parting ways with the Bavarian brand.

For the ‘Super Season’, Martin will race in one of AMR’s two new-for-2018 Vantage GTEs in the GTE Pro class. It means that AMR now has six drivers set for its upcoming campaign, after confirming that Darren Turner, Jonny Adam, Marco Sorensen and Nicki Thiim would all be returning to the team, with 2017 Sebring 12 Hours winner Alex Lynn the only other new face.

“We’ve had an eye on Maxime for several years now, so we are delighted to welcome him to Aston Martin Racing. He is an exceptionally talented GT driver and he is the perfect addition to our high-calibre driver line-up,” said Aston Martin Racing team principal Paul Howarth.

Martin brings a wealth of experience and success in endurance racing to Aston Martin Racing. In 2016 he won the Spa 24 Hours with ROWE Racing and over the years has finished as high as second in the gruelling Nurburgring 24 hours – with Marc VDS Racing. Notably, in the past he also raced at Le Mans in an Aston Martin, finishing seventh overall in a Marc VDS/Kronos-entered Lola Aston Martin DBR 1-2 LMP1 back in 2011.

“I’m extremely excited to join Aston Martin Racing for the WEC ‘Super Season’,” commented Martin. “I have driven other Aston Martin Racing cars in the past and have been in contact with the team for the past few years, but I am quite honoured to take the next step with this great manufacturer. It’s a new challenge for me and also a big change, but I feel that this is the right moment to make this move, especially with the race debut of the new Vantage GTE.

“I have competed at Le Mans three times before, but to come back again next year as an official Aston Martin Racing driver is an amazing feeling. I very much hope we can look forward to a lot of success together.”

The full Aston Martin Racing driver crew configurations for its two Pro cars are set to be revealed next year.