Upcoming young racing driver Philipp Frommenwiler is about to take a major step up the career ladder as he joins the ranks of the ADAC GT Masters. The 23-year-old from Switzerland has been signed by Farnbacher Racing to contest the Super Sports Car League, sharing the cockpit of a 911 GT3 R with Mario Farnbacher.

"I'm excited and optimistic about competing in the ADAC GT Masters next weekend," says Philipp Frommenwiler ahead of the campaign opener at Oschersleben. After two years in the Porsche Carrera Cup, the youngster from Kreuzlingen is sounding upbeat about his first season in the highly competitive GT series: "With Mario as a partner, I think we are genuine contenders for points and podiums."

Frommenwiler already laid down a marker in the official ADAC GT Masters tests earlier this April. "Philip immediately seemed at home in the car," was the ringing endorsement of race engineer Thomas Gassert. Frommenwiler reeled off valuable test kilometres in the Farnbacher Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R on the circuit near Magdeburg: "That really helped in familiarising myself with the car."

His new team based in Lichtenau (Bavaria) and led by Horst Farnbacher is one of the top outfits in German motor racing; they have already notched up several podiums in the ADAC GT Masters and even have a race winner´s trophy in their cabinet. Farnbacher Racing are a force to be reckoned with this year in the shape of driver pairing Philipp Frommenwiler and Mario Farnbacher.

Three questions for Philipp Frommenwiler:

What was your first impression of the ADAC GT Masters?

"I really like this race series. The tests at Oschersleben were most enlightening. The field is extremely well matched, and all teams are operating at a highly professional level."

In 2013, you will again be driving a Porsche 911. How different is it from the car you drove in the Porsche Carrera Cup?

"The version of the 911 GT3 R that is used in the ADAC GT Masters is a GT3 racing model. The aerodynamics, brakes and other components are different. But it´s just as much fun to drive - after all, it´s a Porsche!"

What additional plans, if any, do you have for 2013?

"In addition to all the ADAC GT Masters fixtures, I also have the ADAC Zurich 24-hour endurance race at the Nürburgring in my diary. I'll be part of the Farnbacher Racing squad for that event, along with ADAC GT Masters team-mates Christina Nielsen, Tomas Pivoda and Leh Keen. I´m really looking forward to it, because I´m a big fan of the North Loop."