- Successful start into the ADAC GT Masters 2020 season at the Lausitzring for SSR Performance with a second and fourth place by Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart
- Stefan Schlund, Manager of SSR Performance GmbH:” This great start into the season and a well-deserved reward for our hard work, I did not expect a podium position at our championship debut
- Team Principal Wolfgang Hatz: “Second place and just barely missing the victory at first race of the season – I have to congratulate the drivers and the whole team!”
- SSR performance in the interim championship team ranking in second place
Munich, 2 August 2020 – Successful start into the season of the ADAC GT Masters 2020 for the SSR Performance GmbH team at the Lausitzring. After an excellent second place in the first race on Saturday, Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart took fourth position with their Porsche 911 GT3 R on Sunday. This enables the SSR Performance GmbH team to take second place in the interim championship standings.
On the race weekends of the ADAC GT Masters, which each consist of two races, the fast and experienced GT race drivers Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart take turns on the steering wheel of the up to 550 hp SSR Porsche 911 GT3 R. Ammermüller finished in an excellent fifth place in the first qualifying. In the turbulent race, which was characterized by an accident-related safety car phase, start driver Ammermüller survived a critical moment when a competitor hit his car after missing a braking-point. Michael Ammermüller initially lost a position as a result of the incident, but catched up again and handed the Porsche over to his team-mate Christian Engelhart. After an efficient pit stop, Engelhart was able to conquer an excellent second place just 0.7 seconds behind the winning team.
“This is a perfect start into the season, I’m super happy! Our thorough preparation paid off,” said Ammermüller. Team boss Wolfgang Hatz was correspondingly satisfied:” Second place just barely missing the victory, and that right at the first race of the season – a huge compliment to the whole team, it was perfect work! Stefan Schlund, Managing Director of SSR Performance GmbH from Munich, was also pleased: “We worked really hard and never expected a podium finish – at most maybe we hoped. In this case, luck seems to be with the hard-working!”
In the second qualifying session on Sunday, Christian Engelhart qualified the SSR Porsche 911 GT3 R in fifth place despite an additional 20 kilograms of additional weight that had to be loaded into the Porsche after the second place from the previous day. He started the second race as the starting driver. After a good start, Engelhart immediately made up one position and moved up to fourth. After another good pit stop, Michael Ammermüller took over and brought thanks to a quick and faultless drive the fourth position home: “After our highlight on Saturday, where we finished on the podium, fourth place on Sunday means valuable points for the championship again. In addition, we can unload the success weight of 20 kilograms again, which gives us a great perspective for the next race at the Nürburgring. We will fully attack there again! “Team boss Wolfgang Hatz says: “The second place on Sunday despite the additional 20 kilograms extra weight shows that we have a very fast car and good racing performance.”
Results Round 1 ADAC GT Masters Lausitzring (D):
- Luca Stolz/Maro Engel, Toksport WRT, Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, 1:02:43.235 h
- Michael Ammermüller/Christian Engelhart, SSR Performance, Porsche 911 GT3 R, +0,73 sec.
- Max Hofer/Christopher Haase, Montaplast by Land Motorsport, Audi R8 LMS, +14.828 sec.
- Jannes Fittje/David Jahn, Küs Team75 Bernhard, Porsche 911 GT3 R, +16,878 sec.
- Albert Costa Balboa/Franc Perera, GRT Grasser Racing Lamborgini Huracán GT3E, +17,204 sec.
Results Round 2 ADAC GT Masters Lausitzring (D):
- Charles Weerts/Dries Vanthoor, Team WRT, Audi R8 LMS, 1:01.40,371 h
- Luca Stolz/Maro Engel, Toksport WRT, Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, +3.799 sec.
- Robert Rennauer/Sven Müller, Precote Herbert Motorsport, +5.076 sec.
- Michael Ammermüller/ Christian Engelhart, SSR Performance, Porsche 911 GT3 R, +6.172 sec.
- Patric Niederhauser/Kelvin van der Linde, Rutronik Racing, Audi R8 LMS, +8.909 sec.
Interim championship standings after 2 of 14 rounds:
Drivers:
- Maro Engel and Luca Stolz, each 45 points
- Michael Ammermüller and Christian Engelhart, each 33 points
Teams
- Toksport WRT, 45 points
- SSR Performance, 33 points
- Montaplast by Land Motorsport, 26 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. 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.
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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
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