Ferrari Michelin Cups, Mercedes WeatherTech titles

IMSA

Oct 14

By dominating the race and winning GTD Motul Petit Le Mans, AF Corse Ferrari #21 won IMSA Michelin Endurance Teams Cup, Wadoux / Mann / Pierguidi the Drivers Cup, Ferrari the Manufacturers Cup while Mercedes and Winward Racing scored a double podium and swept all GTD IMSA WeatherTech SprotsCar Championships.

Ferrari 296 GT3 win and double

Simon Mann, Alessandro Pier Guidi and Lilou Wadoux in the #21 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 lead 262 laps of the 405 covered during the 10 hours race and scored 5 points at each of the IMSA Michelin Endurance mark at Motule Petit Le Mans. Wadoux / Mann / Pierguidi secured the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup GTD PRO Drivers Cup, Teams Cup to AF Corse and Manufacturers Cup to Ferrari. Lilou Wadoux became the third woman to win at Petit Le Mans and the first in 20 years.

The trio triumphed ahead of the #023 Triarsi Competizione Ferrari driven by Onofrio Triarsi, James Calado and Kenton Koch.

Winward Racing sweeps IMSA WeatherTech Sportscars GTD championships

Indy Dontje, Philip Ellis and Russell Ward 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 Mercedes for the second time in a row.
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 minutes. 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.

Philip Ellis, Winward Racing #57: "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."

Russell Ward, 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."
Indy Dontje, 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."