Mercedes-AMG opened its 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship campaign in emphatic fashion at the 64th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, securing a hard-fought GTD class victory and a double podium finish in GTD Pro. Across 24 hours of shifting conditions, strategic battles and sustained pressure, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 once again proved its competitiveness at one of endurance racing’s most demanding events.
The headline result came in the GTD category, where Winward Racing’s #57 Mercedes-AMG GT3, driven by Lucas Auer, Indy Dontje, Philip Ellis and Russell Ward, emerged victorious following a dramatic final phase. With differing fuel and pit strategies reshaping the order in the closing hours, the lead changed hands multiple times before Ellis took control in the final stint. The reigning GTD champion fended off sustained attacks to take the chequered flag with a 1.367-second advantage, as Winward Racing led the class eight times and amassed 69 laps at the front.
Mercedes-AMG’s presence at the sharp end extended into the GTD Pro category, where two customer teams secured podium finishes. Team 75 Express claimed second place with the #75 entry of Maro Engel, Kenny Habul, Chaz Mostert and Will Power, delivering a composed and competitive performance throughout the race. Close behind, Team Winward Racing’s #48 car, driven by Jason Hart, Maxime Martin, Scott Noble and Luca Stolz, completed the podium in third after extracting the maximum from its package in a tightly contested class.
The early stages of the endurance classic were marked by multiple incidents, yet all five Mercedes-AMG GT3 entries negotiated the chaotic opening hours without damage, aided by effective communication with spotters positioned on the roof of the main grandstand, a long-standing feature of American endurance racing. As night fell, thick fog rolled across Daytona International Speedway, dramatically reducing visibility and forcing the race to continue under full-course yellow for six hours and 33 minutes — the longest such interruption in the event’s history. When green-flag racing resumed on Sunday morning, Mercedes-AMG’s customer teams remained firmly within the leading laps across both GTD classes.
The closing hours demanded both resilience and composure. Bartone Bros with GetSpeed saw its #69 entry drop out of podium contention following an electronics issue with just over three hours remaining, while Lone Star Racing’s #80 car, featuring Mercedes-AMG Junior Driver Lin Hodenius, battled through a physically demanding race to finish sixth. Despite the setbacks, Mercedes-AMG Motorsport achieved the notable feat of bringing all five GT3 cars to the finish line.
Building on IMSA manufacturers’ championship successes in 2024 and 2025, Mercedes-AMG Motorsport leaves Daytona with strong momentum at the start of the 2026 season. While outright pace varied across the 24-hour distance, execution, strategy and consistency at critical moments proved decisive. Attention now shifts to the next endurance challenge, with the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring scheduled for 18–21 March 2026, where Mercedes-AMG will continue its title defence campaign.
