Young German Max Hesse will race a Hyundai i30 N TCR in the 2019 ADAC TCR Germany series, after signing with Hyundai Team Engstler alongside Frenchman Théo Coicaud.
The 17-year-old is the reigning rookie champion of the TCR Germany series, having raced with Prosport Performance in an Audi RS3 LMS in his first full season in the series.
Hesse delivered some strong results in his second year in TCR, claiming fourth overall in the first race at the Nürburgring and finishing in the top ten on 11 occasions to end the year sixth overall in the drivers’ standings as the best placed driver who failed to finish on the podium.
Hyundai Team Engstler Team Manager Andreas Klinge is looking forward to working with Hesse, who won the Rookie Challenge in four races during the year.
“I’m really looking forward to working with Max,” said Klinge. “We watched him last year and he was our preferred candidate for the new season.
“Together with Théo, who is racing in his second season with us and who has already proven with impressive results last year what is in him, we have two hot irons in the fire for 2019!
“Luca [Engstler] really had an outstanding season [in 2018]. With eleven victories he won the most race victories of all TCR drivers worldwide in 2018.
“The bar is therefore high, but with Hesse and Coicaud we have two strong riders for the upcoming season.
“Both come from karting, have many years of experience in racing and both have already raced in the ADAC TCR Germany.
“The declared aim is to win the drivers’ and teams’ title in the ADAC TCR Germany series.”