IMSA: MOBIL 1 TWELVE HOURS OF SEBRING

March 15, 2025

Indy Dontje

Philip Ellis

Russell Ward

Press Conference

NATE SIEBENS: We have our GTD winners here for the second consecutive year at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, Russell Ward, Philip Ellis, and Indy Dontje.

Russell, you did it again. How did you pull it off this time?

RUSSELL WARD: Yeah, honestly just consistency and hard preparation at the shop the last two months.

NATE SIEBENS: Philip, close racing there at the end. Take us through that, how you were able to overcome the competition.

PHILIP ELLIS: I mean, it was just a good battle I think with the Ferrari and the Lexus for probably the last two hours. Was very tough, but that's what this racing is, especially in IMSA.

I think the drivers like it, I think the spectators like it. Think that's what we should keep doing it, as well.

Obviously there was some rubbing here and there. That's part of good racing. Nothing was over the limit. Just used whatever I had to use. Was a good race. Was a hard race. Happy to end up on top.

NATE SIEBENS: Indy, this is the first win for the team since Watkins Glen. How excited are you to get in the car with these guys knowing the record that you have? How do you feel about taking home another trophy?

INDY DONTJE: I have to keep up.

No, feels really good. We're racing already quite a long time together. We know each other really well in and outside of the car. I think that helps a lot.

We have a really good rhythm in driving, driver-change practice, knowing what we would like in the car. I think all these things come together in this race. Not only in this race, but also in other races.

So yeah, it's a good feeling to have a back-to-back win here in Sebring.

NATE SIEBENS: Questions.

Q. Philip, I spoke to Jack. He didn't seem too pleased about the move in turn five. Wanted to get your view on it, the contact, how that opened the door for you.

PHILIP ELLIS: Yeah, I wouldn't be happy if I lost first place either. I understand that he's not super happy with it.

To be honest, I just gave him back what he gave me a couple laps before in turn seven. He we all know Jack. 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 sew.

Q. Seemed to be quite a good stint after you dropped back.

PHILIP ELLIS: When we got the penalty, we had quite a good lead as well, to most of the cars. I think there were two or three cars close by that actually jumped through that drive-through.

And then it was a full push at that point, trying to make up as much time as we could again, and crawl back to where we were before.

We were a bit lucky as well with the full course cautions. We would have been off cycle to some of the other cars. That basically brought us back into the game.

Q. The significance of going back to back in a race that is this famously tough on everything?

RUSSELL WARD: Honestly, I mean, just to repeat what I said, the preparation is all done at the shop. Really hats off to all the crew at Winward Racing, the full-time guys working day and night to make the car perfect. The car really suits this track really well. It's good on the tires. It's good in the heat. It's reliable.

If you keep it on the paved surfaces, you really have a good chance in winning the race. If you look at the three cars in the mix at the end, none of us put a foot wrong. It's really what it comes down to in these endurance races, is consistency and being there for the last two hours.

INDY DONTJE: I mean, at the test we were great. During the whole practices, we were doing really well. Qualifying went well. The AMG runs really great here in Sebring. It suits the car a lot.

I won't say it was an easy one, but the car felt really great. It's AMG, but a great win to within with all the preparation and all the effort they put into this program because I think that's really lovely to see. I call them my racing family because, yeah, they're doing an absolutely great job.

NATE SIEBENS: Guys, congratulations.