ADAC GT Masters Sachsenring: Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart from SSR performance with inspiring race to catch-up

On the fourth race weekend of the ADAC GT Masters 2020 at the Sachsenring, SSR Performance with Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart scored important championship points finishing two times on with sixth place
Stefan Schlund, Managing Director of SSR Performance GmbH: “On Sunday I didn’t expect that we would get that far forward.”
SSR Performance GmbH is at half-season second in both drivers and team championships

Sachsenring/Munich, 6 October 2020 – The SSR Performance GmbH team with Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart (SSR Porsche 911 GT3 R) demonstrated true fighting spirit on the fourth race weekend of the ADAC GT Masters 2020. After finishing sixth on Saturday, the SSR pilots started after the qualifying the race from the 18th position on Sunday and, after an inspiring race to catch up, once again achieved a sixth place and important championship points. In the championship table, SSR Performance GmbH holds the second place in the team and driver standings after four race weekends at half-time of the GT Masters season.

Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart take turns at 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). How well the teamwork between the two works has been clearly demonstrated in the three previous race weekends of the highly competitive GT series. In the qualifying for Saturday’s race at the Sachsenring, Michael Ammermüller was initially in the lead for a long time, but in the end had to admit defeat by just 0.026 seconds.

Ammermüller didn’t get off to an optimal start in the race, the SSR Porsche 911 GT3 R was hit by the car of a competitor and experienced Michael Ammermüller had his hands full keeping his GT racer on the track. He initially dropped from second to seventh position. After a flawless pit stop, Christian Engelhart took over the wheel and was able to take sixth place and valuable championship points. “Overtaking is really difficult here at the Sachsenring. In the end, we can be satisfied with sixth place,” said Christian Engelhart, summarizing the event. Team boss Wolfgang Hatz explained: “The car was well adjusted for the track. At the finish, we noticed that the Porsche was slightly damaged after the contact in the race and that the track was slightly misaligned. ” In the second qualifying for the race on Sunday, things went anything but smooth for Christian Engelhart. The SSR Porsche 911 GT3 R was only listed in 18th place. Now in the subsequent race it was only a matter of advancing into the points as much possible and thus limiting the damage concerning the championship standings.

Due to a collision on the first lap, five opponents with damaged vehicles had to retire. Engelhart was able to avoid a collision, stayed out of any troubles on the track and was listed in 17th place before the race resumed after the safety car phase. Christian Engelhart was able to catch up several positions and handed over to Michael Ammermüller who found himself after a smoot pit stop on 12th position. After another safety car phase, Ammermüller delivered a stunning performance and, after overtaking maneuvers and a thrilling fight for positions, he conquered sixth place. Thanks to this result at the Sachsenring, Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart were able to defend their second position in the ADAC GT Masters driving championship standings. In the end, Christian Engelhart was able to gain something positive from the less than ideal qualifying: “Sometimes you just have to be in the right place at the right time. If our Sunday qualifying had gone better and if we had been further up the grid, we might have got caught in the accidents in the field. So, it was really good that we started a little further back and could start our race to catch up. Michael Ammermüller was also happy. “Before the race, I would never have thought that our starting position would make us sixth on Sunday. In terms of the duels, it was our strongest race so far. That was really fun, there was real action! ” Stefan Schlund, Managing Director of SSR Performance GmbH from Munich, praised the strong commitment of his drivers: “On Sunday I really didn’t expect that we would get that far ahead in the end. I am very happy that we could score so well for the championship. ”

Results Round 7 ADAC GT Masters Sachsenring (D)

Marvin Dienst/Philipp Frommenwiler, DLV-Team Schütz Motorsport, Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, 1:02.45.387 h
Robert Renauer/Sven Müller, Precote Herbert Motorsport, Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, +3.483 sec.
Luca Stolz/Maro Engel, Toksport WRT, Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, +4.525
Steijn Shothorst/Tim Zimmermann, GRT Grasser Racing Lamborgini Huracán GT3E, +16.533 sec.
Mick Wishofer/Dorian Boccolacci, Team Zakspeed BKK Mobil Oil Racing, Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, +17.339
Michael Ammermüller/Christian Engelhart, SSR Performance, Porsche 911 GT3 R, 18.282

Results Round 8 ADAC GT Masters Sachsenring (D):

Markus Pommer /Jeffrey Schmidt, Callaway Competition, Corvette C7 GT3-R, 1:02.15.547 h
Charles Weerts/Dries Vanthoor, Team WRT, Audi R8 LMS, +3.374 sec.
Patric Niederhauser/Kelvin van der Linde, Rutronik Racing, Audi R8 LMS GT3, +3.957 sec.
Max Hofer /Christopher Haase, Montaplast by Land Motorsport, Audi R8 LMS GT3, +4.450 sec.
Philipp Ellis/Raffaele Marciello, Knaus Team HTP-Winward, Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO, +5.587 sec.
Michael Ammermüller/Christian Engelhart, SSR Performance, Porsche 911 GT3 R, +10.441

Championship standings after 6 of 14 rounds:

Drivers:

Kelvin van der Linde and Patric Niederhauser, 113 points each
Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart, 104 points each
Maro Engel and Luca Stolz, 97 points each
Robert Renauer and Sven Müller, 89 points each
Charles Weerts and Dries Vanthoor, 72 points each
Max Hofer and Christopher Haase, 70 points each

Teams:

Rutronik Racing, 115 points
SSR Performance, 111 points
Toksport WRT, 102 points
Team WRT, 96 points
Precote Herberth Motorsport, 96 points
Montaplast by Land Motorsport, 83 points

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.

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. The Track days starts at the Red Bull Ring. Guests who have booked the GT Masters package will experience races 9 and 10 of the thrilling racing series from October 16-18 as guests of the SSR Performance Team at the Red Bull Ring. After the race weekend, the Track Day will take place on October 19, and the return journey is planned for the following day. If you only want to experience Track Day in a very compact way, you can arrive on October 18 and join the event program.

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 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.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

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