Engelhart Replaces Vanthoor for Hockenheim Season Finale

Laurens Vanthoor will miss the final round of the DTM season at Hockenheim this weekend, with Porsche team SSR Performance introducing Christian Engelhart to its lineup.

Vanthoor, who is 17th in the DTM standings, has endured a challenging season in the No. 92 Porsche 911 GT3 R, having not scored a point in the last seven races.

A statement from SSR said that Porsche “supports” the team’s decision to part ways with Vanthoor before the season finale, citing Vanthoor’s testing and development of the Porsche 963 LMDh car as his main focus heading into the latter stages of the year.

Replacement Engelhart won the 2020 ADAC GT Masters title with SRR Performance, which moved to the DTM this season with a car each for Vanthoor and Dennis Olsen.

Engelhart driver currently drives for Team Joos Sportwagentechnik in GT Masters, where he sits second in the standings alongside his co-driver Ayhancan Guven.

The German driver also piloted a Dinamic Motorsport Porsche in this year’s Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup.

“We wish Laurens all the best for his future and thank him for the good cooperation in this year’s DTM season,” said SSR team principal Mario Schuhbauer.

“At the same time, we are pleased to welcome Christian Engelhart back to the team. The ADAC GT Masters title has already been celebrated together.

“Now we want to end the season with the best possible results and are focusing on podium finishes in the team and driver classifications. I’m looking forward to the end of our debut season, we’ll give it our all again!”

Engelhart, 35, is set to make his DTM debut this weekend in the No. 92 Porsche.

“I already know most of the team members from our joint championship year and am really looking forward to working together again,” he said.

“Thanks to [team owner] Stefan Schlund and his team for this chance and trust.

“It is certainly a challenge with a short preparation time, but I am convinced that we will master it successfully.

“I feel at home in the Porsche 911 GT3 R; only the Michelin tires are new territory for me. In any case, I can hardly wait for the traffic lights to turn green in Hockenheim!”