Third GTD title in a row
With a first win at Petit Le Mans, Russell Ward and Philip Ellis take their third IMSA title in a row, a first in IMSA’s modern era.
Russell Ward, Philip Ellis and WINWARD Racing have made IMSA history. With the class win at the Motul Petit Le Mans, the #57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 secured the GTD title for the third year in a row. Since the start of IMSA’s modern era in 2014, no team had won three championships in a row with the same driver pairing. Mercedes-AMG also won the manufacturers’ championship.
The road there was anything but easy. After a crash at Sebring and damage at Watkins Glen, the team was 300 points behind in June. Then came five podiums in a row with four wins. The #57 went into the finale six points ahead, and its main rival from Turner Motorsport retired in the first hour. The Petit Le Mans win was the team’s first at the race, and in the end the fuel only just lasted.
In total, the #57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 won five races in 2026, including the 24 Hours of Daytona. Indy Dontje again joined for the endurance races.