Mercedes-AMG celebrates 2025 IMSA GTD driver, team and manufacturer championships

• Petit Le Mans: Mercedes-AMG defends three GTD titles at the IMSA finale
• Philip Ellis, Russell Ward and Winward Racing are drivers' and team champions
• Philip Ellis: "Winning the championship is great, but repeating it is indescribable."

Braselton. Mercedes-AMG Motorsport successfully concluded the 2025 season of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with a triple title defence. In the final race, the Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Indy Dontje (NED), Philip Ellis (SUI) and Russell Ward (USA) finished fifth in the GTD class in the #57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 from Winward Racing. As a result, Ellis and Ward, along with the team, secured the drivers' and team championships in the North American racing series again after 2024. The trophy for the best GTD manufacturer also went to Affalterbach for the second time in a row.

Season finale: early title wins for Winward Racing
As in the four previous IMSA endurance events of the 2025 season, Indy Dontje completed the Winward Racing line-up at Petit Le Mans. Philip Ellis laid the foundation for the title success on Friday. The Mercedes-AMG Performance Driver qualified the #57 in fifth place with a time of 1m18.831s. Thanks to the 26 points earned for this, it was already clear before the start of Saturday's race that 18th place in the 19-car GTD category would be enough for the team to win the title again.

The 28th edition of the 10-hour race had barely started when the title defence was already decided: while starting driver Ellis was able to maintain his position, there was an accident involving several cars at the back of the field. Four retirements meant that Philip Ellis, Russell Ward and Winward Racing were already confirmed as GTD drivers' and team champions after just half a lap.

The trio remained in the lead lap until the final stages, crossing the finish line in fifth place in the GTD class after 404 laps and securing the GTD manufacturers' title for Mercedes-AMG. Lone Star Racing also fielded a Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the season finale. However, the race ended prematurely for Scott Andrews (AUS), Wyatt Brichacek (USA) and Lin Hodenius (NED) after 89 laps due to a loose rear wheel.

>> Results IMSA Motul Petit Le Mans

Season review: three victories and two further podium finishes for the Mercedes-AMG GT3
Following a historically successful IMSA year in 2024, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 also delivered impressive results in this season's five sprint and five endurance races. Indy Dontje, Philip Ellis and Russell Ward from Winward Racing first won the 12 Hours of Sebring in March. Ellis and Ward also secured victories at Laguna Seca and Virginia International Raceway. They finished second at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Korthoff Competition Motors secured another podium finish with third place at Watkins Glen International thanks to Kenton Koch, Seth Lucas (both USA) and Daniel Morad (CAN).

Facts, Data, Figures

"North American motorsport is a very important platform for us as a global brand. We are therefore delighted that we were able to defend the drivers', teams' and manufacturers' title despite the strong competition. These successes in the IMSA strengthen the visibility of our products. Thank you to our Customer Racing Teams and drivers, who have represented Mercedes-AMG with outstanding performances."
Christoph Sagemüller, Head of Mercedes-AMG Motorsport

"Congratulations to Winward Racing, Philip and Russell on their well-deserved title defence. They were not only flawless today, but competitive and capable of winning throughout the entire season with the Mercedes-AMG GT3. This underlines the intensive and successful work we have done in integrating the new torque sensors. Accordingly, we are very proud of the results and successes achieved this season."
Stefan Wendl, Head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing

"Defending the title is definitely one of the greatest achievements of my career. Winning the championship is great, but repeating it is indescribable. Especially because some of the parameters were new to us this season due to the new regulations. Thank you to the team, who did a great job throughout. We will work hard and aim for the third one."
Philip Ellis, Winward Racing #57

"It's easier to get to the top than it is to stay there. This season had many tough races with strong competition. But we achieved all our goals and helped defend the manufacturers' title for Mercedes-AMG. We would have loved to win the endurance classification as well. But with three championships, we are of course more than happy."
Russell Ward, Winward Racing #57

"The Mercedes-AMG GT3 felt very good throughout the entire season. When I participated, we were always able to compete for top positions. Unfortunately, we didn't quite make it to the front today, but fifth place is our best result on this track so far. I am delighted for Winward Racing and my teammates, who deservedly defended their championships."
Indy Dontje, Winward Racing #57