Sportscar Racing Career

Martin is probably best known for his F1 achievements, but during his time in and after Formula 1, he competed in a number of other forms of motor sport.

In 1988 Martin took a year out of Formula One to compete in the World Sportscar Championship, winning at Jarama, Monza, Silverstone, Brands Hatch and Fuji. He won the world sports car title with a record points haul. In the same year he also drove Jaguars in the IMSA series in USA, winning Daytona 24Hrs with Raul Boesel and John Nielsen, and at Del Mar, finishing 5th in championship.

In 1989 he returned to F1 full-time, but his car was uncompetitive and Brundle opted to move back into the sports car arena for 1990.

Martin contested the famous Le Mans 24 hours in 1990 with Jaguar , winning in the Jaguar XJR-12 with team mates John Nielsen and Price Cobb. This rejuvenated his career, but still a top-line race seat in Formula One eluded him.

As well as contesting races in sports prototypes, Brundle also contested the American International Race of Champions series in 1990, taking a victory at the temporary circuit at Burke Lakefront Airport (the only IROC victory for a British driver) and coming 3rd in the overall standings.

In 1991 he returned to F1 again, but his car was still uncompetitive and results were sparse. The same year he also competed in the World Sportscar Champoinship with Jaguar, winning at Monza, and finishing 3rd at Silverstone.

In 1996 he competed in the Network Q RAC Rally in a Ford Escort RS Cosworth. His drive was cut short after a heavy crash that caused a turbo fire.

Martin continued to race sportscars after beginning his TV commentary career, competing in Le Mans in 1997 (NISMO-TWR Nissan R390-GT1), 1998 (Toyota GT-One), 1999 (Toyota GT-One), 2001 (Team Bentley Bentley EXP Speed 8) and 2001 (Team Bentley Bentley EXP Speed 8). However he never repeated the success of his first attempt.

In 2005 he competed in the Andros Ice Trophy (Renault Megane), finishing 32nd and 31st at Isola 2000.

In 2008 he came out of retirement to drive in the Formula Palmer Audi Championship alongside his son Alex, who was a series regular. He scored three top-eight finishes from the three races in which he took part.

Including the sportscars Martin drove in his early career, he took part in 67 sportscar races claiming 18 wins, 34 podiums and 11 pole positions.

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