Max Hesse

Max Hesse (born 23 July 2001) is a German racing driver driving for ROWE Racing in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup. The German has been part of the BMW M Motorsport works driver staple since 2023.

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. 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. 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. As a consequence of his title-winning season, Hesse was named the ADAC Junior Motorsportsman of the year.

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. The former would see Hesse attain success, with him winning the 24 Hours of Nürburgring for Walkenhorst Motorsport. 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. With two wins, the trio finished second in the standings, though they were forced to retire from the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

The trio remained together for the next two years, competing with Rowe Racing in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup. 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. 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.

Hesse and Harper both returned to the Endurance Cup and Rowe Racing in 2024, this time partnering Augusto Farfus. At the first race in Le Castellet, an impressive performance by both Hesse and Harper enabled the team to come out victorious. 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. In a rain-shortened event, Hesse, Harper, and Charles Weerts ended up third.

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)

Complete GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup results

 * Season still in progress.