Max Hesse
German racing driver (born 2001)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Max Hesse (born 23 July 2001) is a German racing driver driving for ROWE Racing in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup.[1] The German has been part of the BMW M Motorsport works driver staple since 2023.[2]
| Max Hesse | |
|---|---|
| |
| Nationality |  German |
| Born | 23 July 2001 Wernau, Germany |
| GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup career | |
| Debut season | 2022 |
| Current team | ROWE Racing |
| Racing licence |  FIA Silver (until 2022) FIA Gold (2023–) |
| Car number | 998 |
| Starts | 11 (11 entries) |
| Wins | 1 |
| Podiums | 3 |
| Poles | 0 |
| Fastest laps | 1 |
| Best finish | 10th in 2023 |
| Previous series | |
| 2020–22 2017–19 | Nürburgring Endurance Series ADAC TCR Germany |
| Championship titles | |
| 2019 | ADAC TCR Germany |
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.[3] 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.[4] 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.[5] As a consequence of his title-winning season, Hesse was named the ADAC Junior Motorsportsman of the year.[6]
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.[7][8] The former would see Hesse attain success, with him winning the 24 Hours of Nürburgring for Walkenhorst Motorsport.[9] 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.[10] With two wins, the trio finished second in the standings, though they were forced to retire from the Nürburgring 24 Hours.[11]
The trio remained together for the next two years, competing with Rowe Racing in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup.[12][13] 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.[14][15] 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.[16][17][18]
Hesse and Harper both returned to the Endurance Cup and Rowe Racing in 2024, this time partnering Augusto Farfus.[19] At the first race in Le Castellet, an impressive performance by both Hesse and Harper enabled the team to come out victorious.[20] 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.[21][22] In a rain-shortened event, Hesse, Harper, and Charles Weerts ended up third.[23]
Racing record
Racing career summary
† 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)
| 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 | OSC 1 |
OSC 2 |
LAU 1 |
LAU 2 |
RBR 1 |
RBR 2 |
ZAN 1 |
ZAN 2 |
NÜR 1 |
NÜR 2 |
SAC 1 24 |
SAC 2 28 |
HOC 1 23 |
HOC 2 25 |
43rd | 0 |
| 2018 | PROsport Performance | Audi RS3 LMS TCR | OSC 1 25† |
OSC 2 12 |
MST 1 73 |
MST 2 6 |
RBR 1 83 |
RBR 2 7 |
NÜR 1 42 |
NÜR 2 7 |
ZAN 1 85 |
ZAN 2 21 |
SAC 1 8 |
SAC 2 8 |
HOC 1 94 |
HOC 2 8 |
6th | 247 |
| 2019 | Hyundai Team Engstler | Hyundai i30 N TCR | OSC 1 21 |
OSC 2 3 |
MST 1 23 |
MST 2 5 |
RBR 1 11 |
RBR 2 5 |
ZAN 1 1 |
ZAN 2 9 |
NÜR 1 21 |
NÜR 2 1 |
HOC 1 23 |
HOC 2 1 |
SAC 1 85 |
SAC 2 1 |
1st | 438 |
Complete 24 Hours of Nürburgring results
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Ovr. Pos. |
Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Walkenhorst Motorsport |
 Dan Harper Neil Verhagen |
BMW M4 GT4 | SP8T | 78 | 19th | 1st |
| 2021 | BMW Junior Team Shell |
 Augusto Farfus Dan Harper Neil Verhagen |
BMW M6 GT3 | SP9 | 54 | DNF | DNF |
| 2022 | BMW Junior Team Shell |
Dan Harper Neil Verhagen |
BMW M4 GT3 | SP9 | 86 | DNF | DNF |
| 2023 | BMW Junior Team |
Dan Harper Neil Verhagen |
BMW M4 GT3 | SP9 | 96 | DNF | DNF |
| 2024 | BMW M Team RMG |
Dan Harper Charles Weerts |
BMW M4 GT3 | SP9 | 50 | 3rd | 3rd |
Complete 24H GT Series results
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–23 |  KFC VR46 with Team WRT |
 Sean Gelael Valentino Rossi Maxime Martin Tim Whale |
BMW M4 GT3 | Pro | KUW |
DUB 3 |
ABU |
NC | NC |
Complete GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup results
| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Pos. | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ROWE Racing | BMW M4 GT3 | Pro | IMO 15 |
LEC 4 |
SPA 6H 11 |
SPA 12H 2 |
SPA 24H 5 |
HOC 9 |
CAT 13 |
11th | 36 |
| 2023 | ROWE Racing | BMW M4 GT3 | Pro | MNZ 2 |
LEC 6 |
SPA 6H 4 |
SPA 12H 53† |
SPA 24H Ret |
NÜR 11 |
CAT 12 |
10th | 33 |
| 2024 | ROWE Racing | BMW M4 GT3 | Pro | LEC 1 |
SPA 6H 7 |
SPA 12H 17 |
SPA 24H 6 |
NÜR 11 |
MNZ 27 |
JED Ret |
8th | 36 |
| 2025 | ROWE Racing | BMW M4 GT3 Evo | Pro | LEC | MNZ | SPA 6H 9 |
SPA 12H 1 |
SPA 24H 29 |
NÜR | CAT | 15th | 13 |
Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Make | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Paul Miller Racing | GTD Pro | BMW M4 GT3 Evo | BMW P58 3.0 L Twin Turbo I6 | DAY 12 |
SEB 2 |
LGA 5 |
DET 7 |
WGL 1 |
MOS 9 |
ELK 7 |
VIR 10 |
IMS 3 |
PET 1 |
4th | 2984 |
| 2026 | Paul Miller Racing | GTD Pro | BMW M4 GT3 Evo | BMW P58 3.0 L Twin Turbo I6 | DAY 1 |
SEB |
LGA |
DET |
WGL |
MOS |
ELK |
VIR |
IMS |
PET |
1st* | 366* |