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=202022
201719|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.* Season still in progress.

= 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

! Audi RS3 LMS TCR

|style="background:#;"| OSC
1

|style="background:#;"| OSC
2

|style="background:#;"| LAU
1

|style="background:#;"| LAU
2

|style="background:#;"| RBR
1

|style="background:#;"| RBR
2

|style="background:#;"| ZAN
1

|style="background:#;"| ZAN
2

|style="background:#;"| NÜR
1

|style="background:#;"| NÜR
2

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SAC
1

{{small|24}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SAC
2

{{small|28}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| HOC
1

{{small|23}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| HOC
2

{{small|25}}

! 43rd

! 0

2018

! PROsport Performance

! Audi RS3 LMS TCR

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| OSC
1

{{small|25†}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| OSC
2

{{small|12}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MST
1

{{small|73}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MST
2

{{small|6}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RBR
1

{{small|83}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RBR
2

{{small|7}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NÜR
1

{{small|42}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| NÜR
2

{{small|7}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ZAN
1

{{small|85}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ZAN
2

{{small|21}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SAC
1

{{small|8}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SAC
2

{{small|8}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| HOC
1

{{small|94}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| HOC
2

{{small|8}}

! 6th

! 247

2019

! Hyundai Team Engstler

! Hyundai i30 N TCR

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| OSC
1

{{small|21}}

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| OSC
2

{{small|3}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| MST
1

{{small|23}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MST
2

{{small|5}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RBR
1

{{small|11}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RBR
2

{{small|5}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| ZAN
1

{{small|1}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ZAN
2

{{small|9}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| NÜR
1

{{small|21}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| NÜR
2

{{small|1}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| HOC
1

{{small|23}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| HOC
2

{{small|1}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SAC
1

{{small|85}}

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SAC
2

{{small|1}}

! 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.
Pos.|Overall Position}}

! {{Tooltip|Class
Pos.|Class Position}}

style="text-align:center;"

! 2020

| align="left" | {{flagicon|GER}} Walkenhorst Motorsport

| align="left" | {{flagicon|GBR}} Dan Harper
{{flagicon|USA}} Neil Verhagen

| 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
{{flagicon|GBR}} Dan Harper
{{flagicon|USA}} Neil Verhagen

| 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
{{flagicon|USA}} Neil Verhagen

| 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
{{flagicon|USA}} Neil Verhagen

| 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

! ROWE Racing

! BMW M4 GT3

! Pro

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IMO
{{small|15}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| LEC
{{small|4}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SPA
6H

{{small|11}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SPA
12H

{{small|2}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SPA
24H

{{small|5}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| HOC
{{small|9}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CAT
{{small|13}}

! 11th

! 36

2023

! ROWE Racing

! BMW M4 GT3

! Pro

| style="background:#DFDFDF;" |MNZ
{{small|2}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |LEC
{{small|6}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" |SPA
6H

{{small|4}}

| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |SPA
12H

{{small|53†}}

| style="background:#EFCFFF;" |SPA
24H

{{small|Ret}}

| style="background:#CFCFFF;" |NÜR
{{small|11}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CAT
{{small|12}}

! 10th

! 33

2024

!ROWE Racing

!BMW M4 GT3

!Pro

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| LEC
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SPA
6H

{{small|7}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SPA
12H

{{small|17}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| SPA
24H

{{small|6}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| NÜR
{{small|11}}

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MNZ
{{small|27}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| JED
{{small|Ret}}

! 8th

! 36

*Season still in progress.

References

{{Reflist}}