| Marque Also Already Wrapped up Michelin Endurance Title with a Race Remaining September 26, 2024By Mark RobinsonIMSA Wire Service |
| DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – While most of the championship battles rage on in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, one has already been determined before next month’s Motul Petit Le Mans season finale. Mercedes-AMG has locked up the Grand Touring Daytona (GTD) manufacturer crown. Powered by the performances of customers Winward Racing and Korthoff/Preston Motorsports that sit first and third in the team standings, Mercedes-AMG has built an insurmountable 571-point lead over second-placed BMW with a maximum of 385 points available at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta. In addition, Mercedes has clinched the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup manufacturer crown with a 16-point lead on Porsche (a maximum 15 points are available in the finale). It’s the first GTD season manufacturer championship for the German marque since it began competing in the class in 2017, and the fifth Michelin Endurance Cup title following those attained in 2017, ’18, ’19 and ’23. “I am obviously very proud that we were able to secure the GTD manufacturers’ title for the first time in the history of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship – and that in the penultimate race,” said Stefan Wendl, head of Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing. “On behalf of Mercedes-AMG, I would particularly like to thank our three teams – Lone Star Racing, Korthoff/Preston Motorsports and Winward Racing – as well as the drivers who all worked hard for this outstanding success. “The IMSA series is an extremely strong championship,” Wendl continued. “With a total of 11 manufacturers (in the GTD class), all the major brands are represented. This title is a milestone for Mercedes-AMG in the successful history of our customer racing program and a well-deserved reward for the development of our program in the United States of America. I am now looking forward to Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta and, of course, I am hoping for another successful final race of the season.” Winward and Korthoff/Preston have combined for five wins and four other podium finishes this season to lead the onslaught. A class finish of 15th place or better at Motul Petit Le Mans will wrap up the GTD team championship for Winward and the drivers’ title for Russell Ward and Philip Ellis. Winward also leads the Michelin Endurance Cup GTD standings by a single point over the Inception Racing Ferrari 296 GT3, with Korthoff/Preston an additional three points back. It was a third-place finish by the No. 32 Korthoff/Preston Mercedes-AMG GT3 in Sunday’s TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway that pushed the manufacturer over the brink to clinch the season championship. The No. 57 Winward Mercedes finished fifth in the six-hour race. “Good weekend,” said Mikael Grenier, co-driver of the No. 32 Mercedes. “The car is still in one piece, pole position, third-place points and the manufacturer championship for Mercedes-AMG. It’s great. “I love the brand and being able to race a lot with Mercedes-AMG. IMSA is not the easiest championship because you have many points available in the endurance events, long races, sprint races, a lot of changing strategy and a lot of action on track, so it is great for Mercedes-AMG to win this championship and hopefully we can defend the title next year.” |
