Thanks to Philip Ellis’ aggressive pass on Jack Hawksworth, Winward Racing left with not only its second GTD win at the 12 Hours of Sebring, but also the lead in the IMSA WeatherTech GTD Championship.
The likes of the No. 12 Vasser Sullivan Lexus RC F GT3 and the No. 34 Conquest Racing Ferrari 296 GT3 gave Ellis and crew everything they could handle in the last few hours of the race, but the No. 57 Winward Mercedes-AMG GT3 wouldn’t be denied on the way to the reigning GTD Champions’ first win since Watkins Glen last year.
“It was a good battle, I think, with the Ferrari and the Lexus for the last two hours,” s aid Ellis. “It was very tough. But that’s what GT racing is, especially in IMSA. I think the drivers like it, I think the spectators like it, and I think that’s what we should keep doing a lot.
“Obviously there was some rubbing in there, but I think that’s part of good racing. Noth ing was over the limit. I used whatever I had to use, and what they dished out as well. It was a good race, it was a hard race. But I’m happy to end up on top.”
Ellis ran second behind Hawksworth until, with less than 15 minutes left, Ellis nudged the Lexus at turn five, enough to disturb Hawksworth’s momentum and open a lane for the Mercedes to drive through.
“I wouldn’t be happy if I lost first place either, so I understand that he’s not super happy with it,” Ellis remarked of Hawksworth. “But to be honest, I just gave him back what he gave me a couple laps before in turn seven.
Ironically it was Hawksworth who was conjuring up some aggressive moves to cut past Daniel Juncadella and Daniel Serra last year in the closing minutes, to win the GTD PRO class for Vasser Sullivan.
“I have a lot of respect for him, he’s a great guy. But that’s how he races as well. You reap what you sow.”
Winward Racing has now made two comeback drives in two races this season that have tested their resolve. At Daytona they went as many as seven laps down after fixing a throttle linkage issue, then came back to finish fourth – and could have won if not for a penalty late in the race for breaching IMSA’s emergency service rules.