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'sSP9 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]
