Winward Racing, part of the Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing team, qualified fifth for the upcoming Grand Prix of Long Beach, part of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Driver Russell Ward achieved a top lap time of 1:18.705, securing important points towards the championship. This comes after a challenging prior race at Sebring, where the team faced an early retirement due to an accident. As they prepare for Saturday's 100-minute sprint, the team is determined to capitalize on this solid qualifying position to enhance their standing in the championship.

By the Numbers
  • Russell Ward's qualifying lap time: 1:18.705
  • Points earned from qualifying: 26 points
State of Play
  • Winward Racing is currently just three points shy of the top five in GTD standings.
  • The team aims to rebound from a previous race where they faced mechanical issues.
What's Next

The team will race in the Grand Prix of Long Beach on Saturday, aiming to leverage their qualifying position for a strong race finish. They hope to gain further points to close the gap in the championship standings.

Bottom Line

Securing fifth in qualifying is a crucial step for Winward Racing in their pursuit of a third consecutive GTD championship; maximizing their performance in the upcoming race will be key to reclaiming their competitive edge.