Winward Racing’s remarkable 2024 IMSA GTD season clutch culminates in Germany with top honors for Russell Ward and his team.
The magical 2024 season for Russell Ward reached new heights last weekend. The driver and co-owner of Winward Racing, which swept every championship in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) class, was celebrated in Stuttgart, Germany, at the Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing Championship ceremony.
Ward received the prestigious “Overall Pro Driver” and “Pro Driver” GT3 awards.
Global Recognition
Ward outperformed Mercedes-AMG customer drivers worldwide to earn these accolades. Points were awarded based on finishing positions, race types, and distances, making his triumph a testament to both skill and consistency.
Dominating the 2024 GTD Season
Ward and co-driver Philip Ellis piloted the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 to victory in four GTD races, securing the driver and team championships. Their success propelled Mercedes-AMG to claim the manufacturer championship as well. Three of these victories occurred during IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup events:
- Rolex 24 At Daytona
- Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Presented by Cadillac
- Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen
These wins helped Ward, Ellis, and endurance driver Indy Dontje dominate the Michelin Endurance Cup standings and claim the team and manufacturer titles for Mercedes-AMG.
Put your hands together for Russell Ward! 👏👏👏
With incredible victories at the @IMSA #Rolex24, #Sebring12, #Sahlens6HR, #LagunaSeca and winning all 4️⃣ #IMSA GTD Championships, Russell came out on top of the OVERALL PRO DRIVER standings of our 2023/24 Mercedes-AMG Customer… pic.twitter.com/AxChAxqAJ3
— Mercedes-AMG Motorsport (@amgmotorsport) December 16, 2024
Acknowledging Team Effort
Ward attributed the team’s success to the tireless dedication of the Winward Racing crew.
“It is really a testament to the hard work of the crew,” Ward remarked at the season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans. “They’re constantly working 12 hours a day to keep everything perfect. Nobody sees that. We, as drivers, have one of the easier jobs on the team.”
He emphasized the crew’s role in providing a meticulously prepared car and executing flawless strategies. “The team really made it easy this year. They always had a great car and great strategy. We were always one step ahead of the competition.”
Mercedes-AMG GT3: A Driver’s Dream
Praising the Mercedes-AMG GT3’s drivability and performance, Ward offered us a glimpse into his “wax poetic” of the GT3.
“The Mercedes has a couple of strengths,” Ward said, in a recent press statement. “One of them is drivability; it has a pretty large setup window that allows anyone to get in and be close to the car’s ultimate lap time.”
He highlighted the car’s exceptional tire management as another key advantage. “We’re really good on tire wear, which has been a strong point throughout the year. Our initial testing with the tire and its development over the season paid off.”
Ward’s honors in Stuttgart cap a season defined by teamwork, strategy, and an outstanding car, ensuring 2024 will be remembered as a banner year for Winward Racing and Mercedes-AMG.
Photos: IMSA
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