12/11/2007
NEWS STORY
Willi Weber's A1 Team Germany has signed Michael Ammermuller for the third round of the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport held between 23 and 25 November in Malaysia. The talented 21-year old racing driver from Pocking in the Lower Bavarian district of Passau gets behind the wheel of the powerful 520 hp A1GP race car, since main driver Christian Vietoris will be completing a Formula 1 test with BMW Sauber F1 Team at the same time.
"It's a fantastic chance for Christian to get the opportunity to test with BMW Sauber F1 Team after winning the Formula BMW World Final last year," explains Willi Weber. "We are obviously delighted for him. At the same time I welcome Michael Ammermuller back to our team after his test in August 2006. We want to give him every opportunity, which he has deserved during his young career, to establish his name through strong performances on the international stage." Ammermuller tested together with Nico Hulkenberg and A1 Team Germany at Silverstone in August 2006 and recorded impressive times. However, after he was subsequently appointed as test driver for a Formula 1 team it was impossible for him to appear for A1 Team Germany.
"I'm delighted to get a second chance with A1 Team Germany," admits Michael Ammermuller, who rather unluckily suffered a hand injury in April and was unable to contest a complete season in 2007 as a result. "It's extra motivation to start for the defending champions. Even though I've never driven at this interesting circuit I want to show that I earned this seat by getting a good result in Malaysia. I'm up against a lot of good drivers. I know some of them already from other series. It's a great challenge."
After A1 Team Germany has, for the most part, relied on a single race driver since the 2006/2007 season, the team will now increasingly use the possibility to assess the potential of different drivers during the season – which is more common among other teams in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport. "Christian Vietoris has already started preparing for his Formula 3 season in 2008. This will be intensified throughout the winter," explains Weber. "With Michael Ammermuller we now have another young driver in our squad who should also help us beyond Malaysia."