11.12.2019KÜS Team75 Bernhard welcomes Simona de Silvester

The KÜS Team 75 Bernhard that we have accompanied with great joy and corresponding passion in the years 2018 and 2019, has commented yesterday for the first time on the coming year: With Porsche works-driver Simona de Silvestro the team from the Palantine Bruchmühlbach-Miesau is going to start for the first time with female-power in the cockpit into the ADAC GT Masters 2020. Because in it a place has become vacant: After the retirement of Timo Bernhard (38) as a professional racing driver and his commitment as a brand ambassador for the Zuffenhausen sports car manufacturer, the Swisswoman so to say takes the place of two-time Le Mans winner and two-time endurance world champion in his own Porsche 911 GT3 R, to which we have the various modelcars still on offer. Also to the cars of Klaus Bachler, who remains with the team.

But one thing applies to all limited miniatures: They are getting short. So if you want to save one of the models - maybe as a Christmas present - you should act fast! We eagerly await for the 2019 verions; 2020 sends the first forerunner with the message for the driver line-up of the models. In addition to ex-Porsche junior Klaus Bachler (28) - the Austrian is thus already attacking his third season in a row for the KÜS Team75 Bernhard - Simona de Silvestro will take a seat at the wheel. The 31-year-old Swiss is the first female Porsche factory driver ever; amongst other things she has collected experience in the cockpit of Formula racing cars such as the IndyCar Series and is used by Porsche as a test and development pilot in the Formula E factory team. In the ADAC GT Masters 2020, Simona will be competing for the entire season for the KÜS Team75 Bernhard.

"It is an honor for me to be able to compete in my first GT season with Porsche in the KÜS Team75 Bernhard. And that I so to say take over Timo's seat makes the whole thing even more special. Timo had an incredibly successful career with Porsche. That he gives me the opportunity to drive for his team makes me proud. I can not wait any longer to work with the whole team. I share the cockpit with Klaus, who knows the car inside out, I'm sure we'll be a strong combination. My learning curve has to be steep. But with Timo as a mentor, I am convinced that we will quickly be on the right track." Timo Bernhard will also be responsible for the day-to-day business of his team as Team Principal. The driver line-up of the car with the starting number 18 will be announced next year.

Listen to Klaus Bachler on the news: "I am delighted to be back in the ADAC GT Masters for the KÜS Team75 Bernhard in 2020 as well. This is my third season in a row, driving for Timo's team in the GT Masters. I know all the people, we've been working together very well for so long now. We had achieved very good results in the past year, but unfortunately we did not always have the luck to win on our side. We will all work hard together to do well all the things that are in our power. I would like to take this opportunity to thank both the team and Porsche for their confidence. I would like to thank Timo once again. I wish him all the best for the future and I'm glad that he will bring his great experience further into the team. That will help us all a lot!"

Timo Bernhard: "For me, it is a new role to look after the team in the ADAC GT Masters season and not to be in the role of an active driver anymore. With Klaus Bachler we have a constant in the team. We know how good Klaus is, he knows the series, he knows the team, the car and the tires. With Simona de Silvestro, who we warmly welcome in our KÜS Team75 Bernhard, we have a very fast driver. She has a lot of experience and is new to the Porsche family. I think that's an exciting combination. We have a very powerful team in our starting number 17." Team manager Klaus Graf also welcomes Simona in his statement and is pleased that Timo Bernhard can significantly increase his influence on the day-to-day business in his new role: "Which will certainly help us to make progress!"

Click here to the modelcars of the KÜS Team75 Bernhard