IMSA WEATHERTECH SPORTSCAR CHAMPIONSHIP: SAHLEN'S SIX HOURS OF THE GLEN

June 23, 2024

Indy Dontje

Philip Ellis

Russell Ward

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll bring up our GTD winners. We're joined by our GTD winners here in the Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen, the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3.

Philip Ellis, Russell Ward and Indy Dontje.

Philip, why don't you start us off. I'm sure winning never gets old. Tell us about how it went out there for you guys today, what it took to make this happen.

PHILIP ELLIS: I think it was a very chaotic race, as you definitely saw A lot of mixed weather conditions. Very heavy rain coming down at times. Sometimes just a bit of drizzle, which made some guys take rain tires.

For the most part of the race I'd say we were always on the right tires at the right time. To be honest, we were a bit lucky with the red flag coming out. Just a roll of the dice that we were fueled up to get to the end, which gave us the restarting position in the front with a concussion of Pro cars behind me as well.

After that it was keeping the cars behind. Yeah, can't thank the other guys as well, the team, Russell and Indy, have done an amazing job with very difficult conditions today.

I had I'd say the easiest part of the race.

THE MODERATOR: Russell Ward, when you guys put together this team, could you have imagined a run like you guys are having right now?

RUSSELL WARD: No, absolutely not. I mean, it's just a testament to the group of people we put together. The drivers kind of just did their jobs today. We didn't run the car off track. Maybe Philip one time. I mean, it's just a testament to the group of people we've put together.

THE MODERATOR: Indy, you're perfect for 24 at least in the WeatherTech Championship. How does that feel?

INDY DONTJE: Yes, undefeated this year (smiling).

Yeah, it's great. I have to say, as Philip said, we changed the rain tires, but we stayed the whole race on slick, which is pretty funny if you look to the weather we got this race.

Yeah, the guys did a good strategy call. We were a bit lucky at the end. Really happy winning again in IMSA at the Glen. I think it's lovely. Hopefully we can continue this streak. Already looking forward to the next race.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Philip, can you talk a little bit about the dice with the No. 12 Lexus there right at the end. And just, from your perspective, obviously he tried to make a pass going into the inner loop, and you weren't about to let that happen. And neither one of you blinked, and you came out ahead.

PHILIP ELLIS: I think that basically sums it up already. I think he wanted to make the first opportunity he had, being next to me, count, and tried to pass me around the outside. We had some passes this race that worked.

But I think the situation was a bit different. Sometimes it was early in the race. It wasn't for the lead. I think three, four laps in the end for the lead in class. Just a different situation there already.

Neither of us would give room, just enough to survive, both of us. Unfortunately for him, it didn't pay out. It was just a good, hard fight I'd say.

Unfortunately for him that he had so many positions lost after that as well. To me it's just good racing.

Q. From there on, your next competition was the Porsche. Were you marginal on fuel, or were you pretty much okay?

PHILIP ELLIS: So on fuel, we were actually fine after the red flag. I think we were a bit lucky because the caution or the restart itself did take a lot longer with the prototype being stuck in the Ss. We didn't have to save any more. Shouldn't have been our race. I don't think he should have been on the podium today, if we're honest. It just played out perfectly into our hands.

Q. Russell, very similar race two years ago, long red flag. How does it feel to get this win now?

RUSSELL WARD: It feels amazing. It's redemption for us. I got to say we ran the same strategy. Three double stints. I was pretty nervous at the end. We could see the rain coming. I was just praying we weren't going to make the same mistakes we did two years ago.

But it's good to get redemption. It's an amazing job by the team.

THE MODERATOR: Guys, congratulations.