166: Building Record-Breaking GT-Rs & Lamborghinis | AMS Performance

Tuned In

Tuned In
166: Building Record-Breaking GT-Rs & Lamborghinis | AMS Performance
Jul 15, 2026
High Performance Academy

When Martin designed his first camshaft for the Ford Merkur XR4Ti, he probably never imagined that one day he'd be building some of the fastest GT-Rs and Lamborghinis in the world—but that's exactly what he has done. Martin Musial's journey with AMS Performance has been nothing short of extraordinary.

👉 Use the code ‘PODCAST500’ to get $500 OFF HPA's VIP Package: https://hpcdmy.co/podvip

In this episode of Tuned In, Martin shares how growing up around machinery and studying mechanical engineering laid the foundations for his career. After working in his father’s machine shop, he discovered a passion for designing and manufacturing performance parts that solved real problems, eventually helping shape AMS into one of the world's most respected performance companies.

We follow AMS’s evolution from Mitsubishi Evos to the R35 GT-R, where relentless testing pushed the team to develop stronger engines, turbo systems, and drivetrain solutions. Martin explains how repeated failures lead to innovations, proving that successful product development is built on continuous refinement.

The conversation also explores AMS’s move into the Audi R8 and Lamborghini Huracán platforms, the challenges of modern ECUs and dual-clutch transmissions, and why the biggest dyno number doesn't always make the best street car. Martin also shares the realities of growing a specialist workshop into a global engineering and manufacturing business.

This episode is packed with insight into engine development, product design, and building a successful performance business. Whether you're chasing horsepower or creating better parts, Martin's experience shows that the best results come from understanding the engineering and never stopping the development process.

👉 Use the code ‘PODCAST500’ to get $500 OFF HPA's VIP Package: https://hpcdmy.co/podvip

Follow Martin here:

Instagram: AMS Performance
Facebook: AMS Performance
Youtube: AMS Performance
WWW: amsperformance.com

Timestamps:

0:00 Building Record-Breaking GT-Rs & Lamborghinis | AMS Performance
3:54 How did you become interested in cars?
9:35 The story of starting AMS?
13:49 Is old school mechanical knowledge being lost?
17:57 The start of AMS continued 
26:41 What was the change like from Talon, Eclipse to Evo 8?
35:15 How did you develop your skills with EFI tuning?
37:15 How do you navigate uncharted territory with customer builds?
44:37 The transition from the 4g63 to the R35 GTR
48:25 Designing a stock placement turbo kit for the R35 GTR
57:26 How did the billet block for the R35 come about?
1:05:42 When things go wrong, who pays for it?
1:06:42 The million dollar mistake
1:15:30 What sort of head gasket are you using?
1:17:06 Do we have full control and understanding of the DCT transmissions?
1:24:58 What ECU’s are you using to control these cars?
1:27:12 Moving from the R35 platform to the Lamborghini Huracan/Audi R8
1:32:04 What’s a street level turbo Huracan’s happy power level?  
1:36:52 What makes and models are you looking to support in the future?
1:42:09 What does AMS look like today?
1:50:57 What’s your current role at AMS look like?
1:59:52 Final 3 questions 



Episode Artwork 166: Building Record-Breaking GT-Rs & Lamborghinis | AMS Performance 2:08:46 Episode Artwork 165: Pioneering the Mazda FD3S RX-7 2:04:42 Episode Artwork 164: CAD: The Gateway to Making Dreams a Reality 1:20:25 Episode Artwork 163: ZF 8HP: The Automatic Everyone Wants? 1:24:34 Episode Artwork 162: The Real Science Behind Engine Airflow & Performance 2:02:50 Episode Artwork 161: Standalone vs OEM ECU: Understanding Modern Engine Control 1:50:42 Episode Artwork 160: Next-Level Toyota Builds with Ryan Tuerck – ST205 Celica 1:29:53 Episode Artwork 159: BMW Direct Injection on MoTeC: Genius or Headache? 2:11:59 Episode Artwork 158: No Compromise? Why the 8HP Might Be the Ultimate Transmission 1:39:13 Episode Artwork 157: Inside IndyCar’s Golden Era of Racing 1:42:00 Episode Artwork 156: Breaking Down Diesel: Myths, Tuning & Truth 1:40:49 Episode Artwork 155: Building The Worlds Best Sounding 5 Rotor 2:05:26 Episode Artwork 154: 1000+ HP Diesels to 2JZ Weapons — Chuckles Garage Does It All 1:50:25 Episode Artwork Revisited: Want to Get Your Car Handling Better Than Ever Before? Listen to This. 1:59:31 Episode Artwork Revisited: Is Honda’s K-Series Really the Greatest 4-Cylinder Ever Made? 2:16:30 Episode Artwork 153: A High School Project Gone Wild: 1,450HP IndyCar x Firebird 1:54:09 Episode Artwork 152: Building a Lamborghini Gallardo into a WTAC Weapon 1:45:36 Episode Artwork 151: CBR1000 x Miata - A Match Made in Heaven? 1:18:01 Episode Artwork 150: The Self-Taught Way: Building Wild Engines from Scratch 1:56:31 Episode Artwork 149: Cracking the CAN Code: Mastering Integration in Performance Builds 1:52:44 Episode Artwork 148: The “Impossible” Backyard V10 Screamer 1:53:58 Episode Artwork 147: Inside the Art of Bespoke Engine Building 1:35:07 Episode Artwork 146: From Home Builds to Hypercars: Composites for Everyone 1:45:30 Episode Artwork 145: How to Avoid Wasting Thousands on the Dyno 1:56:26 Episode Artwork 144: Is a Retired F1 Car the Ultimate Track Toy? 1:38:20