But according to http://pixar.wikia.com/wiki/Max_Schnell
“Max Schnell started as a humble production sedan from Stuttgart, Germany. An avid amateur racer, Max would practice alone in the back roads of the dense Black Forest—a trek that eventually caught the eye of a racing team owner. Soon Max was on a professional circuit, bearing the #4, and as his horsepower increased, he converted himself to carbon fiber, dropping his weight and getting into prime racing shape. He’s won more races at Motorheimring than any other World Torque Champion League car in history. A naturally brilliant engineer, he used logic and analytics to refine his build, and plans to approach the World Grand Prix in the same perfectly calculated manner.
Like all World Grand Prix racers, Max Schnell participated in all three races of the competition as well as the Radiator Springs Grand Prix. He was first seen at the party in Tokyo with the other racers. Max's performance in the W.G.P. was really good. Max went up to the third position on the dirt section followed by Nigel Gearsley in Tokyo, but started falling behind afterwards. And at the beginning of the Tokyo race, he at first took the 1st position. But after time, he was passed by Francesco Bernoulli, Lightning McQueen, Carla Veloso, Shu Todoroki and Jeff Gorvette. He was the third race car to be nearly destroyed by the Lemons' camera, as his engine was blown by the machine near the end of the race. In the Porto Corsa and London races, he was seen both times following Miguel Camino from the 5th to 4th position. During the huge crash in Porto Corsa, he tries to brake before the pile-up. However, he fails and violently collides into Miguel Camino and Shu Todoroki. Soon afterwards, Raoul ÇaRoule and Rip Clutchgoneski crash into them. He apparently got fixed and raced in London, and then appeared at the Radiator Springs Grand Prix.”