Marc Hessel

Marc Hessel, born on May 10, 1965, in Bonn, Germany, is a versatile figure known for his accomplishments as a racing driver, event manager, and architect. Hessel's motorsport journey began, like many others, in karting. He transitioned to the German and European Formula Ford F1600 championships in 1985 and 1986, securing an impressive 17 race wins for his father's team, Hessel-Motorsport. In 1986, he narrowly missed out on the title to Michael Bartels. His successful 1986 season earned him a visit with Lotus F1 driver Ayrton Senna and a spot in BMW's newly formed DTM Junior Team.

Hessel's career also includes participation in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) during its formative years. In 1987, driving for BMW, he finished third overall in the championship, a season marked by a dramatic title decider at the Salzburgring. He also competed in Formula 3, achieving his most successful season in 1991 with the Mönninghoff-Sport-Promotion-Team, where he secured a victory and multiple podium finishes, ultimately finishing third in the championship. In 2022, he won the DTM Classic Cup - Class 3.

Beyond racing, Hessel is a qualified architect and has worked as a consultant for Hermann Tilke on various racetrack projects, including Sepang, Estoril, Sachsenring, A1-Ring, and Nürburgring. He has also worked for BMW as a product trainer and co-founded the event agency "Automotive Consult" with former racing colleagues. In recent years, Hessel has continued his involvement in motorsport, participating in events like the Tourwagen Classics and the Tourenwagen Legenden series.