The FIA World Endurance Championship’s new YouTube docuseries ‘Beyond the Track’ races into life today – as the first of ten eagerly-anticipated episodes explores the tension and emotion behind-the-scenes at Iron Lynx over the course of a challenging weekend at COTA.
Focusing primarily on two key characters – Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver, Maxime Martin and Iron Lynx Team Principal, Andrea Piccini – this engaging short film delves into the debriefs during what was a difficult event for the Italian outfit, albeit one that demonstrated the palpable promise and progress of its striking German sportscar.
Something of a veteran of the discipline, experienced Belgian ace Martin offers insights into the relentless pressure of being the pro driver in a pro-am line-up and the vital role played by his amateur team-mate, as he and Piccini mull over the myriad factors and sacrifices so indispensable to success in endurance racing – motorsport’s ultimate test of teamwork.
Martin didn’t ultimately get to race in Austin, after Lin Hodenius retired the #61 Mercedes-AMG entry with just over an hour remaining following a spin – “We always know when it starts, but we never know when it ends,” he philosophically reflects – but the 39-year-old remained buoyed by the unfulfilled potential of a car that featured right up at the sharp end of proceedings in the early stages of Lone Star Le Mans.
With just cause, as it transpired. Only two rounds later, that same car scooped the runner-up spoils in the Bahrain season finale courtesy of a late charge by Martin, who took the chequered flag barely three-quarters-of-a-second shy of snatching the three-pointed star’s maiden LMGT3 class victory...
Watch FIA WEC live or on-demand via the official FIA WEC TV app – your full-access pass to the FIA World Endurance Championship including the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans. Don’t miss a moment. For further information, check out the app.
