After the first qualifying session at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve Portimao, Portugal, was sobering for the Porsches in the field, the Balance of Performance (BoP) was slightly adjusted for the race. Dennis Olsen and Laurens Vanthoor started their DTM debut on the 4.653 km track from 19th and 26th place. A good start and the right pit stop strategy let the #92 and #94 clean up the field from behind. With 17 laps remaining, it was once again exciting. The safety car was used and allowed the SSR drivers to attack again. The Porsche 911 GT3 R with striking design crossed the finish line in fifth (Dennis Olsen) and eighth position (Laurens Vanthoor) and thus ensured a strong comeback.

Sunday's qualifying was more positive than the one the day before. Porsche works driver Laurens Vanthoor started the race from eleventh position and was in seventh place after the first lap. He was able to defend it until the end. Dennis Olsen started the race in 16th position and made up five places in the 33 laps.

In total, the SSR Performance drivers scored 20 points for the championship. In addition, the team had the strongest Porsche in both races.

The next DTM weekend will take place from 20 to 22 May at the Lausitzring, Germany.

Mario Schuhbauer, Team Principal SSR Performance

"I am very proud of our team. We did a very good job this weekend. The whole team worked very hard, but unfortunately we had no chance of a better placement because the classification in the strong field was not right. However, we will not be unsettled by this and come back to the Lausitzring highly motivated, with the aim of winning."

Stefan Schlund, Team Owner SSR Performance

"Full of anticipation we travelled to Portimao. Unfortunately, we were deprived of any chance of a better ranking with regard to an unfairly classified BoP. I see an urgent need for action for the next events. I take the performance of our entire SSR team to Germany in an extremely positive way. In order to be perfectly positioned for the next races, we have to work in a focused manner in the coming weeks."

Laurens Vanthoor, #92 Driver SSR Performance

"It wasn't an easy start to the championship. The first qualifying session was a shock for all of us. In the race we fought back. It's the first time in the DTM for all of us, we learn something new every time we're on track. Today it went better. We also moved forward in the race, but there is definitely room for improvement."

Dennis Olsen, #94 Driver SSR Performance

"It was a difficult weekend. We did a good job and had a good car. But despite our efforts, we have not achieved the desired results. Nevertheless, I was happy to have scored a few points yesterday. It's pretty clear that something has to change for the upcoming events. We are not competitive at the moment, but we will continue to work hard."