Archive for month: July, 2020

• SSR performance with promising test drives before the start of the 2020 season of ADAC GT Masters 2020, scheduled for first weekend of August at Lausitzring
• Team Principal Wolfgang Hatz: “In our apprenticeship year in the toughest series for GT3 cars, we’ll do everything we can to be competitive right from the start”
• Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart were able to extensively test the team’s Porsche 911 GT3 R at the Lausitzring
• SSR Performance GmbH runs a new competence and service centre in Munich, offering services for sports and historic cars on six floors, covering around 10,000 square meters of usable area including a nitrogen storage

Munich, 20 July 2020 – Racing finally resumes: The team of SSR Performance GmbH, with its drivers Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart, successfully completed the official test session before the start of the German ADAC GT Masters 2020. The most demanding GT racing series in Europe starts the new season after the COVID-19 related break on the first weekend of August. Thanks to an extensive safety and hygiene concept, the teams were able to prepare the start of the season at the Lausitzring close to Dresden.

The young and dynamic, Munich based SSR Performance GmbH had an exciting start into the year 2020. Despite the coronavirus related restrictions, the planned move to a new high-performance automotive center in the north of the Bavarian metropolis was carried out successfully. The new premises offer six floors and around 10,000 square meters of usable space. At the Lausitzring, the motorsport department of SSR Performance attended the official test weekend before the start of the ADAC GT Masters 2020. Team boss Wolfgang Hatz, father of the successful Porsche LMP1 project, which resulted in three victories at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans and three successive world championship titles, summed up the test weekend: “For us, the season 2020 is an apprenticeship year in what is probably the most powerful GT3 racing series. With our strong driver pairing of Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart, we will do everything we can to be competitive right from the start. We had a good test weekend, especially on Sunday, and the team was able to get along well together.”

The test at the Lausitzring was not just about doing fast laps. The new team of SSR Performance GmbH, which is supported by the experienced specialists from Manthey Racing, extensively trained the processes on the race track, such as the work in the pit lane. The ADAC GT Masters is a real team sport; during the two-race format weekends, the fast and proven GT-racers Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart share the cockpit of the up to 550-horse power strong SSR Porsche 911 GT3 R.

Michael Ammermüller is looking forward to the new season: “I really enjoyed the test, finally we can race again and we are well prepared. I’m already looking forward to the first Qualifying of the first race!” His team-mate Christian Engelhart adds: “The ADAC GT Masters is an extremely demanding racing series with top drivers and experienced teams, which makes the task even more difficult for us. But after this test weekend I can say: We have made good progress and we are well prepared!”

At a glance: Michael Ammermüller

In 2007, today 34 years old Michael Ammermüller was very close to landing a seat in Formula One. But when he broke his scaphoid, this dream went down the drain – and a certain Sebastian Vettel was signed by Toro Rosso. But to give up was never an option for Ammermüller. He put his focus on GT racing. In 2008, he made his debut in the Porsche Carrera Cup, in 2012 followed by ADAC GT Masters. After two second places in the German Porsche series in 2014 and 2018, he started to shine in the international Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. He dominated the series in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and set a title hat trick. Ammermüller lives in Rotthalmünster in the very south of Germany in Bavaria.

At a glance: Christian Engelhart

33 years old Christian Engelhart from Starnberg started his motorsport career in kart racing, before he competed in the German Formula BMW series and had two successful years in the Austrian Touring Car Championship. Then, he changed to GT sports and entered the German Porsche Carrera Cup, becoming three times vice champion. In 2012, his first full season in the ADAC GT Masters, he finished third overall. In 2017, Engelhart became champion of the Blancpain GT Series, two years later he came second in ADAC GT Masters. In his career, the professional GT race driver and driving coach achieved 43 victories and 166 podium positions. Among his career highlights are, besides the title wins in the Blancpain GT and GT Endurance Championship, victories at the Rolex 24 hours of Daytona and the 24 hours races in Dubai and Zolder.

At a glance: Wolfgang Hatz

Just in time before the season’s start, the young and promising motorsport team of SSR Performance GmbH could secure the services of one of the most experienced top-managers in motorsports. Wolfgang Hatz is not only the mastermind behind the successful Porsche LMP1 projects, which led to three victories at the legendary 24 hours race in Le Mans and three World Endurance Championships in a row. He also collected in other motorsport categories up to Formula One vast experience and multiple successes. From 1983 up to 1989 Hatz worked as an engineer for research and development in the powertrain department of BMW and was responsible as project leader for the development of the legendary M3 engine S14. After that, he joined Porsche and until 1993 led the Formula One development. After several leading positions with different car manufactures, he returned to Porsche in 2011 as Board Member for Research and Development and led the LMP1 program of the Stuttgart based brand.

For its maiden ADAC GT Masters season, the young team of SSR Performance can rely on the support of the experienced specialists from Manthey Racing.

Fun on the race track – track days with professional support

Everybody, who wants to enjoy pure racing feeling, is invited to the track days of SSR Performance GmbH. Experienced racing professionals like Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart are assisting as instructors. Thanks to the comprehensive support at the race track, the customer can fully concentrate on driving. For more information concerning the event calendar visit the web site www.ssr-performance.de or contact SSR Performance via mail at [email protected].

At a glance: The drivers of SSR Performance for the ADAC GT Masters 2020

Driver:          Michael Ammermüller Born:            14/02/1986 Age:               34 Lives in:      Rotthalmünster (DEU)

Driver:           Christian Engelhart Born:             13/12/1986 Age:              33 Lives in:     Starnberg (DEU)

At a glance: The SSR PORSCHE 911 GT3 R 991.2

Based on the 991.2 series, Porsche developed the 911 GT3 R for GT racing. Compared to the successful predecessor, the model features even more advanced aerodynamics and kinematics. The six-cylinder boxer engine with a displacement of 4.0 litres delivers up to 550 hp, depending on the respective race series’ rules. The power is transferred to the rear wheels by a six-speed gearbox operated by paddle shifters. The car weighs in at 1,235 kgs.

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The calendar of the ADAC GT Masters 2020

31 July – 02 August:               ADAC GT Lausitzring (D)

14 – 16 August:                     ADAC GT Masters Nürburgring (D)

18 –  20 September:               ADAC GT Masters Hockenheim (D)

02 – 04 October:                    ADAC GT Masters Sachsenring (D)

16 – 18 October:                    ADAC GT Masters Red Bull Ring (A)

30 October – 01 November:     ADAC GT Masters Zandvoort (NL)

06 – 08 November:                 ADAC GT Masters Oschersleben (D)

 

Download link: https://ssr-performance.de/presse/presseportal/ Passwort: ssrmedia