TCR Germany success for Max Hesse and Hyundai Team Engstler
Victory in the final race of the TCR Germany season at Sachsenring saw i30 N TCR driver Max Hesse clinch the 2019 title in style. The result rounded out a fantastic season for the Hyundai Germany supported Hyundai Team Engstler squad, who topped the team’s standings.
Finishing second in the same race, Hari Proczyk secured the runner-up spot in the championship to give Hyundai customers the top-two positions in the 2019 table.
“First and second in the TCR Germany drivers’ standings and the teams’ title is an incredible achievement for our Hyundai i30 N TCR customers,” said our Customer Racing Senior Sales Associate Andrew Johns. “The series is one of the strongest national TCR championships, with good teams representing a number of manufacturers.”
Strong all season
Both Hyundai Team Engstler and Proczyk’s HP Racing International squad were strong throughout the season, starting with the opening round of the championship at Oschersleben. Proczyk and Hesse shared the front row of the grid, while Hesse started the year with a pair of podiums.
However, it was in the second half of the season when the i30 N TCR drivers found the form that was to put them at the top of the series. Hesse claimed a first win, both in the series and with the Hyundai, during the Zandvoort weekend in August. Just a week later, he claimed maximum championship points at the Nürburgring, where our WRC driver Thierry gave a race-winning cameo as a guest entrant in a third car run by the Engstler team.
Hesse took the championship lead after a remarkable weekend at Hockenheim where i30 N TCR drivers swept the podium in both races, with a win apiece for him and Proczyk. However, the superb performance left the i30 N TCR teams carrying maximum compensation weight for the finale weekend at the Sachsenring.
Final flourish
Hesse’s lead initially shrank after a tough first race at the title-deciding weekend where he could only finish in eighth, but he delivered a mature performance in Race 2 – patiently making his way from fifth on the grid to the lead to make sure he was in position to claim the championship in dramatic fashion.
His Hyundai Team Engstler teammate Théo Coicaud finished the finale in sixth, ensuring the outfit of the teams’ championship title to match Hesse’s triumph.
Andrew added: “To be so strong throughout the season – with customers claiming the most pole positions and most race wins from the year – only underlines the quality of our customers and their drivers, and the performance of the car. That the i30 N TCR cars are built in Germany at Hyundai Motorsport headquarters in Alzenau, and that Hyundai Team Engstler work closely with our colleagues at Hyundai Germany only adds to the celebrations.”
2019 TCR Germany Series Drivers’ Standings
After round 14
1 M. Hesse 438
2 H. Proczyk 431
3 A. Buri 426
4 M. Halder 399
5 D. Fugel 271
6 T. Coicaud 266
7 M. Halder 249
8 J. Apotheloz 226.5
9 R. Kircher 214
10 L. Niedertscheider 202
2019 TCR Germany Series Teams’ Standings
After round 14
1 Hyundai Team Engstler 680
2 Profi-Car Team Honda ADAC Sachsen 640
3 HP Racing International 608
4 LMS Racing 421
