ADAC GT Masters Lausitzring: Challenging weekend for SSR Performance Team Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart

• Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart took 6th and 11th place on the sixth race weekend of the ADAC GT Masters 2020
• SSR performance still in the race for the championship
• Stefan Schlund, Managing Director of SSR Performance GmbH: “On a difficult weekend, we scored valuable points again and will continue to do our best in the fight for the title.”

Lausitzring/Munich, 2. November 2020 – Rain, difficult track conditions and not optimal qualifying runs for the races at the Lausitzring – the SSR Performance GmbH team with Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart managed damage limitation with sixth and eleventh places and is still in the race for the championship before the season finale. The ADAC GT Masters races originally planned in Zandvoort had been moved to the Lausitzring due to the measures taken to contain the COVID-19 virus, on top of that no spectators were allowed.

Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart, who share the steering wheel of the up to 550 hp SSR Porsche 911 GT3 R on the ADAC GT Masters race weekends (each consisting of two races), started after the qualifying session on Saturdayfrom twelfth place into race 11 at the Lausitzring. Christian Engelhart made a good start on the damp track and was listed in tenth place after the first lap. Engelhart took it carefully in the light rain and a correspondingly slippery track. Due to an accident of a competitor, the race was interrupted by a safety car phase. After the restart, Christian Engelhart defended his tenth position and drove to the pit stop early to hand over to Michael Ammermüller. The SSR Porsche was afterwards noted on ninth position. After two more safety car phases, Ammermüller finally took a good sixth place and thus valuable championship points. “My start was quite good, but I was quickly pinned by competitors, there was contact on the left and right of the car. I was happy to be able to hand over the car in one piece in the end. The visibility was due to the rain and the spray very poor, there was a lot of mud on the track that got on the windshield, it was really difficult to see anything today,” reported Engelhart. His team partner Michael Ammermüller added: “The view was really a problem today, so I drove more conservative and safely.” In qualifying on Sunday, everything went wrong for Michael Ammermüller. Shortly after the start of the qualifying, he was surprised by the onset of rain, and while many opponents had been still able to achieve their fastest times in the dry, he could only set the 25^th quickest time on the wet track. From now on, the task for the SSR Performance Team at the Sunday race was all about damage limitation and somehow finishing in the points. Michael Ammermüller had an excellent start, made up fifteen positions on the first lap alone and moved into tenth position. In the following laps, however, he lost three positions before handing the SSR Porsche 911 GT3 R over to Christian Engelhart at the mandatory pit stop. In the end, the SSR Performance pilots were able to score again with an eleventh place, which Christian Engelhart secured at the end. “We have never started so far from behind, Michael drove a sensational first lap,” Engelhart cheered his team mate and Michael Ammermüller concluded: “I was on the right track at the right time and was able to move forward, but in the end, it was very important to finish here and collect as many points as possible. ” Stefan Schlund, Managing Director of SSR Performance GmbH from Munich, said: “On a difficult weekend, we scored valuable points again and will continue to do our best in the fight for the title.” *

Results Round 11 ADAC GT Masters Lausitzring 2 (D):

1. Christopher Haase /Max Hofer, Montaplast by Land Motorsport, Audi R8 LMS GT3, 1:03:27.043 h
2. Indy Dontje/Maximilian Götz, Mann-Filter HTP-WINWARD, Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, + 0.147 sec.
3. Robert Rennauer/Klaus Bachler, Precote Herbert Motorsport, Porsche 911 GT3 R, + 1.450 sec.
4. Jannes Fitje/David Jahn, KÜS Team75 Bernhard, Porsche 911 GT3 R, + 2.272 sec.
5. Patric Niederhauser/Kelvin van der Linde, Rutronik Racing, Audi R8 LMS, + 4.169 sec.
6. Christian Engelhart/Michael Ammermüller, SSR Performance, Porsche 911 GT3 R, + 5.426

Results Round 12 ADAC GT Masters Lausitzring 2 (D): *

1. Mick Wishofer/Dorian Boccolaci, Team Zakspeed BKK Mobil Oil Racing, Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, 1:03:14.401 h
2. Robert Rennauer/Klaus Bachler, Precote Herbert Motorsport, Porsche 911 GT3 R, + 4.609 sec.
3. Alfred Rennauer/Sebastian Asch, Precote Herbert Motorsport, Porsche 911 GT3 R, + 5.017
4. Luca Stolz/Maro Engel, Toksport WRT, Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, + 7.336
5. Indy Dontje/Maximilian Götz, Mann-Filter HTP-WINWARD, Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, + 13.322
6. Patric Niederhauser/Kelvin van der Linde, Rutronik Racing, Audi R8 LMS, + 13.800 sec.
7. Christian Engelhart/Michael Ammermüller, SSR Performance, Porsche 911 GT3 R, + 46.059 sec.*

Championship standings after 12 of 14 rounds: *

Drivers:

1. Kelvin van der Linde and Patric Niederhauser, 150 points each
2. Robert Rennauer, 145 points
3. Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart, 143 points each*

Teams:

1. Rutronik Racing, 154 points
2. Precotew Herberth Motorsport, 152 points
3. SSR Performance, 151 points
4. Toksport WRT, 146 points

*Championship standings subject to appeal (round 10)

The young and dynamic, Munich based SSR Performance GmbH was founded by a motorsport and car enthusiast.  The exclusive car conversion company had an exciting start into the year 2020. After moving into a new high performance automotive centre in the north of the Bavarian capital, where six floors with around 10,000 square metres of usable area are available, SSR Performance’s motorsport division is competing the ADAC GT Masters 2020. During the two-race format weekends of ADAC GT Masters, 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.

“For us, this high-profile race series is the best possible showcase to demonstrate our competence in motorsports and sports cars,” says Stefan Schlund, CEO of the SSR Performance GmbH. Michael Cap, Head of Motorsports & Events adds: “We are happy to have with Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart two extremely fast and experienced GT-specialists driving for our team.” Wolfgang Hatz is the Team Director of SSR Performance for ADAC GT Masters season.

For the SSR Performance GmbH, motorsport is an essential part of its DNA. The company has already made itself a name with building, enhancing and optimizing sports and classic cars and now takes on the challenge of the ADAC GT Masters 2020.

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.

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

Driver:                   Michael Ammermüller                                                    Driver:                   Christian Engelhart

Born:                     14/02/1986                                                                       Born:                     13/12/1986

Age:                      34                                                                                     Age:                      33

Lives in:                Rotthalmünster (DEU)                                                    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 Lausitzring 2 (D)

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

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