- After Michael Ammermüller’s and Christian Engelhart’s first season win in the ADAC GT Masters 2020 at the Nürburgring, team SSR Performance is currently second overall in the championship
- Stefan Schlund, Managing Director SSR Performance GmbH: “We want to continue our successful streak in what is probably the most demanding series for GT sports cars.”
- Team boss Wolfgang Hatz: “Our young team is working well together and hungry for success.”
Munich, 16 September 2020 – The motorsport division of SSR Performance GmbH team had a dream start into the 2020 ADAC GT Masters season. Already during the second race weekend at the Nürburgring, the first victory was achieved, the second place overall in both drivers’ and team championship was defended. Now the young team is returning to the Hockenheimring, where SSR Performance concluded the first test run in the ADAC GT Masters one year ago. In the upcoming races 5 and 6 at the Hockenheimring (September 18-20), drivers Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart want to build on the previously shown performances with their Porsche 911 GT3 R.
During ADAC GT Masters events (each consisting of two separate races), the fast and experienced GT racers Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart not only take turns at the steering wheel of the up to 550 horse powers strong SSR Porsche 911 GT3 R, they also work very well together. Team boss Wolfgang Hatz is full of praise: “Michael and Christian delivered top performances on both race weekends at Lausitzring and Nürburgring. This impresses me just as much as our young team, which, supported by the specialists from Manthey Racing, has grown together and works hand in hand. We are hungry for success and are looking forward to the race weekend at the Hockenheimring. ”
Stefan Schlund, Managing Director of SSR Performance GmbH from Munich, emphasizes: “I never expected, that we could celebrate a victory in the ADAC GT Masters already during the second race weekend. At the Hockenheimring, we want to continue our successful streak in what is probably the most demanding series for GT sports cars!”
German tv station Sport1 broadcasts the races live on Saturday (19 September) and Sunday (20 September) from 1:00 p.m. As a service for fans, SSR Performance offers an exclusive online shop (www.ssr-performance.de/shop).
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].
Championship standings after 4 of 14 races:
Drivers:
- Maro Engel and Luca Stolz, 74 points each
- Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart, 59 points each
- Robert Rennauer and Sven Müller, 50 points each
- Charles Weerts and Dries Vanthoor, 45 points each
- Kelvin van der Linde and Patric Niederhauser, 43 points each
Teams:
- Toksport WRT, 75 points
- SSR Performance, 63 points
- Precote Herberth Motorsport, 56 points
- Team WRT, 49 points
- Montaplast by Land Motorsport, 37 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.
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 Masters Zandvoort (NL)
06 – 08 November: ADAC GT Masters Oschersleben (D)
Download link: https://ssr-performance.de/presse/presseportal/ Passwort: ssrmedia
- ADAC GT Masters, 3. + 4. Rennen Nürburgring 2020 – Foto: Gruppe C Photography; #92 Porsche 911 GT3 R, SSR Performance: Christian Engelhart, Michael Ammermüller
- ADAC GT Masters, 3. + 4. Rennen Nürburgring 2020 – Foto: Gruppe C Photography; #92 Porsche 911 GT3 R, SSR Performance: Christian Engelhart, Michael Ammermüller
- ADAC GT Masters, 3. + 4. Rennen Nürburgring 2020 – Foto: Gruppe C Photography; #92 Porsche 911 GT3 R, SSR Performance: Christian Engelhart, Michael Ammermüller
- ADAC GT Masters, 3. + 4. Rennen Nürburgring 2020 – Foto: Gruppe C Photography; #92 Porsche 911 GT3 R, SSR Performance: Christian Engelhart, Michael Ammermüller