Max Hesse
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Short description|German racing driver (born 2001)}}
{{Infobox racing driver|name=Max Hesse|image=File:GT World Challenge Europe 2024 Nürburg Nr. 998 Farfus, Harper, Hesse.jpg|caption=|nationality={{flagicon|GER}} German|birth_date={{Birth date and age|2001|7|23|df=y}}|birth_place=Wernau, Germany|related to=| racing licence = 12px FIA Silver {{small|(until 2022)}}
12px FIA Gold {{small|(2023–)}}|current series=GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup|first year=2022|current team=ROWE Racing|former teams=|car number=998|starts=11 (11 entries)|wins=1|podiums=3|poles=0|fastest laps=1|best finish=10th|year=2023|prev series=Nürburgring Endurance Series
ADAC TCR Germany|prev series years=2020–22
2017–19|titles=ADAC TCR Germany|title years=2019|awards=|award years=}}
Max Hesse (born 23 July 2001) is a German racing driver driving for ROWE Racing in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup.{{Cite web |title=ROWE Racing Confirms World Challenge Europe & N24 Plans {{!}} dailysportscar.com |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/03/02/rowe-racing-confirms-world-challenge-europe-n24-plans.html |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=www.dailysportscar.com}} The German has been part of the BMW M Motorsport works driver staple since 2023.{{Cite web |title=Nach drei Jahren als BMW Junior Team: Dan Harper, Max Hesse und Neil Verhagen sind BMW M Werksfahrer. |url=https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/deutschland/article/detail/T0407401DE/nach-drei-jahren-als-bmw-junior-team:-dan-harper-max-hesse-und-neil-verhagen-sind-bmw-m-werksfahrer?language=de |access-date=2023-04-05 |website=www.press.bmwgroup.com |language=de}}
Career
Hesse began his car racing career in the TCR touring car scene, making his ADAC TCR Germany debut in 2017 before embarking on a full season with PROsport Performance in 2018.{{Cite news |date=23 March 2018 |title=Sandro Kaibach and Max Hesse at PROsport Performance in 2018 |url=https://www.touringcars.net/2018/03/sandro-kaibach-and-max-hesse-at-prosport-performance-in-2018 |access-date=23 March 2018 |work=TouringCars.Net |language=en-US}} Following a sixth-place finish in the standings and the Rookie Trophy title, the German moved to Hyundai Team Engstler ahead of the 2019 season.{{Cite web |date=2019-01-09 |title=Max Hesse joins Théo Coicaud at Team Engstler |url=https://www.touringcartimes.com/2019/01/09/max-hesse-joins-theo-coicaud-team-engstler/ |access-date=2019-01-10 |website=TouringCarTimes |language=en-US}} He took his first podiums in the opening three races before going on a run of four victories in the final eight races, narrowly winning the title against defending champion Harald Proczyk.{{Cite web |last=TouringCarTimes |date=2019-09-29 |title=Newly crowned champion Max Hesse: "It was absolute madness" |url=https://www.touringcartimes.com/2019/09/29/newly-crowned-champion-max-hesse-absolute-madness/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=TouringCarTimes |language=en-US}} As a consequence of his title-winning season, Hesse was named the ADAC Junior Motorsportsman of the year.{{Cite web |last=fabior |date=2019-11-08 |title=Max Hesse named ADAC Junior Motorsportsman of the year |url=https://tcr-worldranking.com/news/item/max-hesse-named-adac-junior-motorsportsman-of-the-year |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=TCR World Ranking |language=en-gb}}
Hesse switched his focus to the Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie from 2020 onward as a newly-minted BMW junior driver, racing in multiple events in the SP8T and Cup 5 classes.{{Cite web |title=Max Hesse wird Fahrer im BMW Junior Team – Max Hesse – powered by Fast-Media |url=https://www.max-hesse.com/2020/01/09/max-hesse-wird-fahrer-im-bmw-junior-team/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |language=de-DE}}{{Cite web |last=Dagys |first=John |date=2020-01-09 |title=BMW Revives Junior Team; Names Drivers for 2020 – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/industry/bmw-revives-junior-team-names-drivers-for-2020/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}} The former would see Hesse attain success, with him winning the 24 Hours of Nürburgring for Walkenhorst Motorsport.{{Cite web |title=BMW Junior Team 2020: An extraordinary year with extraordinary performances. |url=https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0323089EN/bmw-junior-team-2020:-an-extraordinary-year-with-extraordinary-performances?language=en |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.press.bmwgroup.com |language=en}} In 2021, he and N24-winning teammates Dan Harper and Neil Verhagen went on to drive in the NLS's SP9 category, the highest-placed GT class, under the Team RMG banner.{{cite news |date=25 January 2021 |title=GT News Notebook: ADAC GT Masters, N24 & NLS |url=http://www.dailysportscar.com/2021/01/25/gt-news-notebook%e2%80%a8%e2%80%a8-adac-gt-masters-n24-and-nls.html |accessdate=25 January 2021 |work=Dailysportscar}} With two wins, the trio finished second in the standings, though they were forced to retire from the Nürburgring 24 Hours.{{cite news |last=Lloyd |first=Daniel |date=5 May 2021 |title=Defending Winner BMW Names N24 Driver Lineups |url=https://sportscar365.com/other-series/n24/defending-winner-bmw-names-n24-driver-lineups/ |access-date=5 May 2021 |work=sportscar365 |publisher=John Dagys Media}}
The trio remained together for the next two years, competing with Rowe Racing in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup.{{Cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Daniel |date=16 February 2022 |title=BMW Junior Team Enters Endurance Cup with ROWE |url=https://sportscar365.com/sro/gtwc/world-challenge-europe/bmw-junior-team-enters-endurance-cup-with-rowe/ |access-date=16 February 2022 |website=sportscar365.com |publisher=John Dagys Media}}{{cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Daniel |date=2 March 2023 |title=ROWE Sets Lineups for Two-Car Efforts in Endurance Cup, N24 |url=https://sportscar365.com/sro/world-challenge-europe/rowe-sets-lineups-for-two-car-programs-in-endurance-n24/ |accessdate=2 March 2023 |website=sportscar365.com |publisher=John Dagys Media}} Their highlight performance came with a second place at the 2023 season-opener at Monza, in the first year which Hesse, Harper, and Verhagen contested as full BMW factory drivers.{{Cite web |title=BMW Confirm 20 Factory Drivers For 2023 Season |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2022/12/09/bmw-confirm-20-factory-drivers-for-2023-season.html |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.dailysportscar.com}}{{Cite web |title=1-2 For ROWE Racing In Endurance Cup Opener At Monza |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/04/23/1-2-for-rowe-racing-in-endurance-cup-opener-at-monza.html |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.dailysportscar.com}} Further successes included an overall race win in the NLS and a personal success for Hesse, who won the second race of the Road to Le Mans event alongside Valentino Rossi.{{Cite web |title=BMW Junior Team Wins NLS3 |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/04/17/bmw-junior-team-wins-nls3.html |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.dailysportscar.com}}{{Cite web |title=Rossi Win Headlines 2023 Road To Le Mans Races |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/06/09/rossi-win-headlines-2023-road-to-le-mans-races.html |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.dailysportscar.com}}{{Cite web |last=Pettit |first=Vince |date=2023-06-14 |title=Rossi and BMW M Team WRT Triumph at Road to Le Mans |url=https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2023/06/rossi-and-bmw-m-team-wrt-triumph-at-road-to-le-mans/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=The Checkered Flag |language=en-GB}}
Hesse and Harper both returned to the Endurance Cup and Rowe Racing in 2024, this time partnering Augusto Farfus.{{cite news |date=31 January 2024 |title=ROWE Racing to compete in GT World Challenge Europe and the 24h Nürburgring again in 2024 |url=https://en.endurance-info.com/auto/article/110529-rowe-racing-compete-gt-world-challenge-europe-and-24h-nurburgring-again-2024 |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=Endurance-Info}} At the first race in Le Castellet, an impressive performance by both Hesse and Harper enabled the team to come out victorious.{{Cite web |last=Euwema |first=Davey |date=2024-04-07 |title=ROWE BMW Wins Endurance Cup Opener at Paul Ricard – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/sro/world-challenge-europe/rowe-bmw-wins-endurance-cup-opener-at-paul-ricard/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}} Hesse added to his accolades at the end of May by taking pole position for the Nürburgring 24 Hours, making him the youngest polesitter in the history of the race.{{Cite web |title=Hesse Beats Vanthoor To Nürburgring 24 Hours Pole |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2024/05/31/hesse-beats-vanthoor-to-nurburgring-24-hours-pole.html |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=www.dailysportscar.com}}{{Cite web |last=Euwema |first=Davey |date=2024-05-31 |title=Nürburgring Friday Notebook – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/other-series/n24/nurburgring-friday-notebook-15/ |access-date=2024-05-31 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}} In a rain-shortened event, Hesse, Harper, and Charles Weerts ended up third.{{Cite web |last=Euwema |first=Davey |date=2024-06-02 |title=Scherer Sport PHX Wins Shortest-Ever, Red-Flagged N24 – Sportscar365 |url=https://sportscar365.com/other-series/n24/scherer-sport-phx-wins-shortest-ever-red-flagged-n24/ |access-date=2024-06-02 |website=sportscar365.com |language=en-US}}
Racing record
= Racing career summary =
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%; text-align:center"
!Season !Series !Team !Races !Wins !Poles !F/Laps !Podiums !Points !Position |
| 2017
| align="left" |ADAC TCR Germany | align="left" |Aust Motorsport |4 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |43rd |
|---|
| rowspan="2" |2018
| align="left" |ADAC TCR Germany | align="left" |PROsport Performance |14 |0 |0 |0 |0 |247 |6th |
| align="left" |GT4 International Cup
| align="left" |Phoenix Racing |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |N/A |8th |
| 2019
| align="left" |ADAC TCR Germany | align="left" |Hyundai Team Engstler |14 |4 |2 |2 |9 |438 | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1st |
| rowspan="5" |2020
| rowspan="2" align="left" |Nürburgring Endurance Series - SP8T | align="left" |FK Performance Motorsport |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 | rowspan="2" |11.25 | rowspan="2" |4th |
| align="left" |Walkenhorst Motorsport
|2 |0 |0 |0 |1 |
| rowspan="2" align="left" |Nürburgring Endurance Series - Cup 5
| align="left" |FK Performance Motorsport |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 | rowspan="2" |11.67 | rowspan="2" |28th |
| rowspan="2" align="left" |Walkenhorst Motorsport
|1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |
| align="left" |24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP8T
|1 |1 |0 |0 |1 |N/A | style="background:#FFFFBF;" |1st |
| rowspan="3" |2021
| align="left" |Nürburgring Endurance Series - SP9 | align="left" |BMW Team RMG |7 |2 |0 |0 |4 |39.22 | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |2nd |
| align="left" |24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9
| align="left" |BMW Junior Team Shell |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |N/A |DNF |
| align="left" |24H GT Series - P4
| align="left" |BMW M Motorsport{{cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Daniel |date=21 October 2021 |title=IMSA Pair, Junior Team Members in M4 GT3 for 24H Sebring |url=https://sportscar365.com/other-series/24hseries/imsa-pair-junior-team-members-in-m4-gt3-for-24h-sebring/ |accessdate=21 October 2021 |work=Sportscar365 |publisher=John Dagys Media}} |1 |1 |0 |0 |1 |0 |NC† |
| rowspan="3" |2022
| align="left" |GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup | align="left" |BMW Junior Team with ROWE Racing |5 |0 |0 |0 |0 |36 |11th |
| align="left" |Nürburgring Endurance Series - SP9
| align="left" |BMW Junior Team{{cite web |last=Goodwin |first=Graham |date=12 April 2022 |title=Seven BMW M4 GT3s For Nürburgring 24 Hours |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2022/04/12/seven-bmw-m4-gt3s-for-nurburgring-24-hours.html |access-date=12 April 2022 |publisher=Dailysportscar}} |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |NC† |
| align="left" |24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9
|align=left| BMW Junior Team Shell |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |N/A |DNF |
| 2022-23
|align=left| Middle East Trophy - GT3 |align=left| KFC VR46 Team WRT |1 |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 |NC† |
| rowspan="5" |2023
| align="left" |24H GT Series - GT3 | rowspan="2" align="left" |Team WRT |1 |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 |NC† |
| align=left| Le Mans Cup - GT3
|2 |1 |1 |1 |2 |0 |NC† |
| align="left" |GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup
| align="left" |ROWE Racing | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 33 |10th |
| align="left" | Nürburgring Endurance Series - SP9 Pro
| rowspan="2" align="left" | BMW Junior Team | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | NC† |
| align=left| 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9
|1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |N/A |DNF |
| rowspan="8" |2024
|align=left| GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup |align=left| ROWE Racing | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 36 |8th |
| align=left| Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - SP9
| rowspan="3" align="left" | BMW M Team RMG | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | * | * |
| align=left| Intercontinental GT Challenge
| rowspan="2" |1 |0 |1 |0 |1 |18* |8th* |
| align=left| 24 Hours of Nürburgring - SP9
|0 |1 |0 |1 |N/A | style="background:#FFDF9F;" |3rd |
| align=left| Italian GT Sprint Championship - GT3
|align=left| BMW Italia Ceccato Racing | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20* | 5th* |
| align=left| British GT Championship - GT3
|align=left| RAM Racing | | | | | | | |
| align=left| GT World Challenge America - Pro
|align=left| Team WRT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | NC† |
| align=left| Nürburgring Langstrecken-Serie - SP3T
|align=left| FK Performance Motorsport | | | | | | | |
| rowspan="3" |2025
|align=left| Middle East Trophy - GT3 |align=left| Al Manar Racing by Team WRT | | | | | | | |
| align=left| IMSA SportsCar Championship - GTD Pro
|align=left| Paul Miller Racing | | | | | | | |
| align="left" |GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup
| align="left" |ROWE Racing | | | | | | | |
† As Hesse was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.
= Complete ADAC TCR Germany Touring Car Championship results =
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
! Year ! Team ! Car ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! 8 ! 9 ! 10 ! 11 ! 12 ! 13 ! 14 ! DC ! Points |
| 2017
! Aust Motorsport |style="background:#;"| OSC |style="background:#;"| OSC |style="background:#;"| LAU |style="background:#;"| LAU |style="background:#;"| RBR |style="background:#;"| RBR |style="background:#;"| ZAN |style="background:#;"| ZAN |style="background:#;"| NÜR |style="background:#;"| NÜR |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SAC |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SAC |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| HOC |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| HOC ! 43rd ! 0 |
| 2018
! PROsport Performance |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| OSC |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| OSC |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MST |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MST |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RBR |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RBR |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NÜR |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NÜR |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ZAN |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ZAN |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SAC |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SAC |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| HOC |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| HOC ! 6th ! 247 |
| 2019
|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| OSC |style="background:#FFDF9F;"| OSC |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MST |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MST |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RBR |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RBR |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ZAN |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ZAN |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| NÜR |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| NÜR |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| HOC |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| HOC |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SAC |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SAC ! style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 1st ! style="background:#FFFFBF;"| 438 |
=Complete 24 Hours of Nürburgring results=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%"
! Year ! Team ! Co-Drivers ! Car ! Class ! Laps ! {{Tooltip|Ovr. ! {{Tooltip|Class |
| style="text-align:center;"
! 2020 | align="left" | {{flagicon|GER}} Walkenhorst Motorsport | align="left" | {{flagicon|GBR}} Dan Harper | align="left" | BMW M4 GT4 | SP8T | 78 | 19th | style="background:#FFFFBF;" | 1st |
| style="text-align:center;"
! 2021 | align="left" | {{flagicon|GER}} BMW Junior Team Shell | align="left" | {{flagicon|BRA}} Augusto Farfus | align="left" | BMW M6 GT3 | SP9 | 54 | DNF | DNF |
| style="text-align:center;"
! 2022 | align="left" | {{flagicon|GER}} BMW Junior Team Shell | align="left" | {{flagicon|GBR}} Dan Harper | align="left" | BMW M4 GT3 | SP9 | 86 | DNF | DNF |
| style="text-align:center;"
! 2023 | align="left" | {{flagicon|GER}} BMW Junior Team | align="left" | {{flagicon|GBR}} Dan Harper | align="left" | BMW M4 GT3 | SP9 |96 |DNF |DNF |
=Complete GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup results=
| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;" |
| Year
! Team ! Car ! Class ! 1 ! 2 ! 3 ! 4 ! 5 ! 6 ! 7 ! Pos. ! Points |
|---|
| 2022
! Pro |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IMO |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LEC |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SPA |style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SPA |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SPA |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| HOC |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CAT ! 11th ! 36 |
| 2023
! Pro | style="background:#DFDFDF;" |MNZ | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |LEC | style="background:#DFFFDF;" |SPA | style="background:#CFCFFF;" |SPA | style="background:#EFCFFF;" |SPA | style="background:#CFCFFF;" |NÜR |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CAT ! 10th ! 33 |
| 2024
!Pro |style="background:#FFFFBF;"| LEC |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SPA |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SPA |style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SPA |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| NÜR |style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MNZ |style="background:#EFCFFF;"| JED ! 8th ! 36 |
*Season still in progress.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{DriverDB driver|max-hesse}}
{{BMW M Factory Drivers}}
{{IMSA GTD Pro teams}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hesse, Max}}
Category:German racing drivers
Category:GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup drivers
Category:Nürburgring 24 Hours drivers
Category:W Racing Team drivers
Category:Phoenix Racing drivers
Category:Engstler Motorsport drivers
Category:24 Hours of Spa drivers
Category:ADAC TCR Germany Touring Car Championship drivers
Category:British GT Championship drivers