Max Hellmann

20,000 euros poorer, but richer in world championship experience

Max Hellmann has a solid World Championship behind him.(Bild: zVg)

Flattrack racer Max Hellmann has his first world championship behind him. He has learned a lot and has also received high praise from the title winner. The man from Pongau has also put in a lot of hard work.

Almost three intensive months lie behind Max Hellmann. The flat track racer had the honor of taking part in his first world championship. After the six races, he finished 18th out of 31 participants. "It was quite good for the first season. Acceptable, but it could have been better," said the 16-year-old self-critically. "It definitely gave me experience, I was able to improve a lot over the course of the World Championships." At the finale in Debrecen (Hungary), he even received praise from the eventual world champion: "I caught him in the race because I had a higher speed. He later told me that he hadn't expected me to be so fast."

Thumbs up for Max Hellmann.(Bild: zVg)

The man from Pongau went to great lengths to gain this experience. To get to the competitions and back home again, he covered 22,768 kilometers with his father and driver Max Senior. "Our bus has never let us down," grinned the dad.

It was also a financial challenge. 20,000 euros was the budget for the World Championship races, which the duo managed to get by on - excluding engine repairs. The majority of this came from sponsors: "You can forget about it out of your own pocket." After traveling all over Europe (Germany, England, France, the Czech Republic, Italy and Hungary), Hellmann will be back on his own doorstep in St. Johann on Saturday.