The 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season ended with a landmark achievement for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport and its customer racing team Winward Racing. At the season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 delivered a memorable victory while securing a third consecutive GT Daytona (GTD) championship.
Russell Ward, Philip Ellis, and endurance driver Indy Dontje combined speed, consistency, and careful strategy to guide Winward Racing to its first Petit Le Mans victory. The result also completed a remarkable three-year championship run for Winward and Mercedes-AMG.
A Historic Third Consecutive Championship
Winward Racing entered the 2026 Petit Le Mans finale with a narrow six-point advantage in the GTD standings. After 10 hours of demanding competition, the team emerged not only as race winners but also as three-time consecutive GTD champions.
The achievement is particularly significant because the team retained its core full-season driver pairing of Russell Ward and Philip Ellis. According to IMSA, the result made Winward the first team in the modern IMSA era to win three consecutive championships with the same full-season driver lineup.
For Mercedes-AMG, the result represented a third straight GTD manufacturers’ championship as well.
First Petit Le Mans Victory for Winward Racing
Although Winward had previously enjoyed considerable success in IMSA competition, a Petit Le Mans victory had remained out of reach.
That changed at Road Atlanta in 2026. The No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 completed 346 laps during the 10-hour event, with Ellis taking the car to victory after a tense closing phase.
The victory was especially impressive because the battle remained competitive until late in the race. Fuel strategy, traffic, caution periods, and changing race conditions all played important roles. A late full-course caution helped the leading cars manage their fuel strategy and gave Winward an opportunity to protect its position through the final stages.
Russell Ward and Philip Ellis Lead the Championship Charge
Russell Ward and Philip Ellis formed the foundation of Winward Racing’s championship campaign. Their consistency throughout the season proved just as important as outright race pace.
Indy Dontje joined Ward and Ellis for the endurance rounds, including Petit Le Mans. The three-driver combination proved capable of managing the physical and strategic demands of a 10-hour race.
The championship was ultimately built on strong results throughout the season rather than one individual performance. The No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 recorded five GTD victories during the campaign, including its success at Petit Le Mans.
A Remarkable Second-Half Comeback
Winward’s third championship was not secured easily. The team faced significant challenges during the middle portion of the season, including an incident at Watkins Glen that threatened to derail its championship campaign.
Instead of allowing the setback to define the season, the team responded with an impressive run of results.
Over the final five races, Winward recorded four victories and a second-place finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That surge transformed the championship fight and provided the momentum needed heading into Petit Le Mans.
Mercedes-AMG GT3 Proves Its Strength
The success also highlighted the competitiveness of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the IMSA GTD category.
Customer racing is an important part of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport’s global competition strategy. Instead of relying exclusively on a factory-operated team, Mercedes-AMG supports customer teams competing with its racing machinery.
Winward Racing’s three consecutive GTD championships demonstrate how effective that relationship can be when a capable team, experienced drivers, engineering resources, and a competitive race car come together.
Pressure From Strong Rivals
The championship battle was far from straightforward. Winward’s closest competitors entered the finale with mathematical opportunities to challenge for the title.
However, problems for major rivals changed the complexion of the championship early in the 10-hour race. The No. 27 Heart of Racing Aston Martin faced an engine-related setback, while the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW encountered a race-ending issue soon after the start.
Winward still had to complete the race successfully, and the team continued to push for the overall GTD victory rather than simply protecting its championship advantage.
Ellis Delivers Under Late-Race Pressure
Philip Ellis played a crucial role in the final stages. The Mercedes-AMG driver faced pressure from rival GTD cars while simultaneously managing fuel consumption.
The No. 57 eventually took the lead on Lap 320. A late caution helped ease the team’s fuel concerns, allowing Ellis to bring the Mercedes-AMG GT3 through the final restart and secure the historic victory.
The result demonstrated the importance of making smart decisions during an endurance race, where outright speed is only one part of the equation.
Five IMSA Titles in One Season
The achievement went beyond the GTD championship. Ward, Ellis, and Dontje also secured the driver and team championships in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup.
As a result, Winward Racing’s 2026 campaign produced five IMSA titles across the relevant GTD and endurance categories.
That makes the season one of the most successful chapters in the team’s history.
What the Achievement Means for Winward Racing
Winward Racing has grown into one of the leading customer programs in IMSA competition. Its latest championship demonstrates the value of long-term development, operational consistency, and maintaining a strong core team.
The organization has also already confirmed its intention to continue with Ward and Ellis for the 2027 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, giving the team an opportunity to build on its remarkable three-year run.
A Major Milestone for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport
For Mercedes-AMG, the result represents another important achievement in North American sports car racing. The company has now secured three consecutive GTD manufacturers’ championships alongside Winward Racing.
The accomplishment is also significant because the GTD class features fierce competition from manufacturers and teams representing some of the world’s best-known automotive brands.
Winning three championships in succession requires much more than a fast car. It requires reliability, strong engineering, disciplined pit work, effective strategy, and drivers who can consistently score points.
Looking Ahead to 2027
With the 2026 season ending on such a high note, attention will now turn toward the next IMSA campaign. Winward Racing will return with Ward and Ellis, while Mercedes-AMG will look to continue its strong customer racing presence.
The challenge will be even greater because competitors will be determined to stop the championship streak. Nevertheless, the team’s recent record gives it considerable confidence heading into the new season.
Final Thoughts
Winward Racing and Mercedes-AMG’s third consecutive GTD championship at Petit Le Mans represents a remarkable combination of consistency, resilience, and performance. The No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 not only secured the championship but also captured Winward’s first Petit Le Mans victory.
The 2026 season demonstrated that championship success in endurance racing is built over an entire campaign. After overcoming setbacks and producing a spectacular late-season run, Winward Racing finished the year at the top once again.
With another season ahead and the Ward-Ellis partnership continuing, the record-setting team will now have an opportunity to extend one of the most impressive championship streaks in modern IMSA customer racing.