Maxime Martin believes Team Qatar by Iron Lynx can fight for victory when the 2026 European Le Mans Series (ELMS) heads to Spa-Francorchamps, as the Belgian prepares for his home round following the team’s breakthrough podium at Imola.
The 40-year-old joined Abdulla Ali Al Khelaifi and Julien Hanses in the No. 62 Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 EVO at Le Castellet and Imola, helping the trio secure second place in Italy and the team’s first podium of the season. With Iron Lynx sitting fourth in the championship and only 12 points behind the No. 33 TF Sport Corvette, Martin sees Spa as another opportunity to strengthen their title challenge.
Imola podium provides Martin with encouragement for second half of 2026 ELMS campaign
Martin considers the opening half of the campaign positive, although he believes the team has not always converted its performance into the results it deserved. The Imola podium therefore provided both a reward for its pace and an important platform heading into the remaining rounds.
“I think it has been a decent 1st half of the season. We showed great potential but couldn’t really score every time. The podium in Imola was good relief and hope will put us in a better position for the second half of the season.”
That second-place finish represented an important step for the programme after earlier opportunities went unrewarded. More importantly, it demonstrated that the No. 62 crew could challenge near the front when everything came together.
With Spa now next on the calendar, Martin wants to build on that momentum rather than treat Imola as an isolated high point.
New teammates quickly form strong partnership
Martin had not raced alongside Al Khelaifi or Hanses before this season, meaning the trio needed to establish their working relationship while also developing the wider programme.
However, Martin has enjoyed that process and praised both drivers for the way they have approached the season.
“No, I’ve never raced with them before. They are really nice and professional teammates and happy to race with them.”
Endurance racing places significant importance on cooperation between drivers, particularly when balancing setup preferences, managing traffic and sharing information across a long race weekend. Their early podium therefore offered encouraging evidence that the new combination can operate effectively together.
Mercedes-AMG provides consistent platform for Martin in 2026 ELMS campaign
Martin also speaks highly of the Mercedes-AMG LMGT3 EVO and believes its greatest strength lies in its adaptability across different circuits and conditions.
Rather than depending on one specific track characteristic, he feels the car regularly gives its drivers a competitive operating window across the varied demands of the ELMS calendar.
“The Mercedes-AMG is one of the best GT3’s built in the last 10 years. The real strength of the car is that it is very efficient; It’s always in a good range on any track, any conditions, any tyres.”
That consistency should prove particularly valuable at Spa, where changing weather and a mixture of high-speed and technical sections can test both car and driver.
For Martin, it also gives the team confidence that its Imola performance can translate to a different circuit rather than depending entirely on track-specific strengths.
Home race adds extra significance
Spa already carries a special place within international motorsport, but the circuit holds even greater meaning for Martin as a Belgian driver.
The Ardennes venue gives him the rare opportunity to compete in front of a home crowd while racing at one of the most celebrated circuits on the ELMS calendar.
“Spa is always a special place to race but also as Belgian it makes it even more special. It’s always a pleasure to race in your own country and with all the people.”
That connection adds another layer to a weekend that already carries championship importance. With Iron Lynx firmly within reach of the teams ahead, a strong result could have consequences beyond simply delivering a home podium.
Pouhon stands above Spa’s famous corners
Although Eau Rouge remains Spa-Francorchamps’ most recognisable corner, Martin identifies another section as his personal favourite.
“For sure Eau Rouge is the most famous and spectacular one but the double left of Pouhon is my favourite.”
Pouhon places a premium on commitment and precision, while its high-speed nature contributes heavily to the rhythm that makes Spa such a distinctive challenge.
For Martin, familiarity with the circuit may provide additional comfort, but the team will still need to execute cleanly across the entire weekend to turn that experience into a result.
Martin believes 2026 ELMS victory is achievable in Spa
The championship situation gives Team Qatar by Iron Lynx plenty to fight for. Sitting fourth and only 12 points behind the No. 33 TF Sport Corvette, the team remains firmly involved in the title battle.
After the step forward at Imola, Martin believes the No. 62 crew has now shown enough performance to target the podium again. He also sees victory as a realistic objective at his home race.
“Looking at our overall performance and especially on the last race, I think that we should be able to fight for a podium and a potential win.”
That ambition reflects how quickly the programme has progressed. Earlier in the season, Iron Lynx showed potential without always converting it into points. At Imola, it finally translated that pace into a podium.
Spa now provides the opportunity to go one better. For Martin, doing so at home would not only strengthen the championship challenge but also turn an already special weekend into one of the defining moments of the season.
