Winward Racing Scores Back-to-Back Sebring Victories After Dramatic Late-Race Battle
Mercedes-AMG GT3 team Winward Racing secured their second consecutive Sebring 12 Hours victory through a dramatic late-race pass by Philip Ellis on Jack Hawksworth's Lexus RC F GT3.
Mercedes-AMG GT3 at Sebring circuit
Ellis executed an aggressive but fair move on Hawksworth at turn five with less than 15 minutes remaining, giving Winward Racing their first win since Watkins Glen last year and the lead in the IMSA WeatherTech GTD Championship.
The victory came despite a drive-through penalty for a pit work infraction in the second half of the race. The team's resilience mirrors their performance at Daytona, where they recovered from a seven-lap deficit to finish fourth.
Ellis, along with teammates Russell Ward and Indy Dontje, kept the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 competitive throughout the grueling 12-hour event. The car showed particular strength in managing tires and handling the intense Florida heat.
"It was a good battle with the Ferrari and the Lexus for the last two hours," Ellis said. "That's what GT racing is, especially in IMSA. There was some rubbing, but nothing was over the limit."
Ward credited the Texas-based Winward Racing crew for preparing a car perfectly suited to Sebring's demanding conditions. The team will look to extend their championship lead at the upcoming Long Beach street circuit race.
Key factors in the victory:
- Strategic late-race pass by Philip Ellis
- Strong car performance in heat and tire management
- Effective recovery from mid-race penalty
- Consistent driving from all three team members
The team will next compete at Long Beach, sharing the track with the premiere GTP class prototypes.