Winward Racing

Background

Wim de Pundert was one of the founders of HTP Investment BV. Along with Klaas Meertens the duo bought, managed and sold various companies starting in 1990. The private equity company became more Germany focused when it acquired the Knaus Tabbert caravan manufacturers, Morelo Reisemobile caravan manufacturers and the Halberg-Guss foundry. It also owned Reum Kunststoff- und Metalltechnik GmbH which was sold to Grammer Interior Components in 2015.

2007-2010: Early beginnings

The racing team was founded in 2007 when father Wim and son Reynier de Pundert bought two Formula Gloria tube framed single-seaters. Reynier finished 8th in the amateur championship. The team returned the following season with Reynier winning the championship while Wim run only a partial season. In 2008 the team also fielded Christiaan Frankenhout in the international Gloria Scouting Cup where he finished third. After the demise of the short-lived single-seater series, the team entered the Dutch Renault Clio Cup for 2009, 2010 and 2011. During the seasons Reynier de Pundert did not score a podium finish in the overall classification. In 2009 the team also joined Dutch GT4 with an Aston Martin Vantage for Junior Strous. Strous won one race and scored four podium finishes.

2010-2012: Team HEICO Motorsport

Automotive tuning company Heico Sportiv ran racing cars since 1995. The German Volvo tuning company first entered a Volvo 850 in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. The racing of various Volvo's ended in 2001 when the owners of Volvo, Premier Automotive Group, ended all customer and factory supported racing activities. Heico Sportiv restarted the racing programme for Volvo's, which were in-house developed, in 2007. The team focused on fuel efficiency with diesel and biofuel.

In late 2010 the team acquired two Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3. The team eventually entered three SLS AMG's in the 2011 ADAC GT Masters. Austrians Dominik Baumann and Harald Proczyk were the best placed Heico Motorsport drivers. Baumann and Proczyk scored four podium finishes placing them fifth in the series championship. Baumann also competed in the 2011 FIA GT3 European Championship with teammate Brice Bosi. At Circuit Paul Ricard the team scored the first ever GT3 race win for an SLS AMG. Heico Motorsport continued in 2012 winning the team championship in the FIA GT3 European Championship. Working with Charouz Racing System Baumann and Maximilian Buhk won the team championship.

2013-2014: HTP Motorsport

HTP Investment BV has had sponsorship agreements with Heico Motorsport since the team entered GT3 racing in 2011. HTP Investment BV took over Heico Motorsport at the beginning of 2013. Heico Motorsport team principal Norbert Brückner remained as the principal of the new team. Winning the 2013 24 Hours of Spa and the following 1000km of the Nürburgring this was enough for Buhk to secure the 2013 Blancpain Endurance Series championship. HTP Motorsport won the In 2014 the best result for HTP Motorsport in the Blancpain Endurance Series was a second place at the Nürburgring. The team was more successful in the 2014 ADAC GT Masters. Maxi Buhk and Maxi Götz won at Oschersleben and EuroSpeedway Lausitz. Götz won the 2014 Blancpain Sprint Series with HTP Motorsport.

2015: Bentley factory programme and the HTP Junior Team

The team switched manufacturer for the 2015 racing season. In December 2014 it was announced that Bentley selected HTP Motorsport to run one of their factory supported GT3 programs. The team entered five new Bentley Continental GT3 cars. The Blancpain Endurance Series was unsuccessful with a new driver line up failing to provide results. A ninth place at the 2015 24 Hours of Spa for Vincent Abril, Mike Parisy and Harold Primat was the team's best result in the Endurance Series. Abril partnered with Buhk in the 2015 Blancpain Sprint Series winning two qualifying races and two main races. Along with four more podium this was enough to secure the drivers championship. Fellow HTP Motorsport driver Jules Szymkowiak also won the Silver Cup classification. In the 2015 ADAC GT Masters the team won a single race with Luca Stolz and Jeroen Bleekemolen winning at Oschersleben.

When the ADAC Formel Masters transformed into the ADAC Formula 4 (in accordance with FIA Formula 4 regulations), HTP Motorsport entered three Tatuus F4-T014 cars. The team was run by Brückner and former HWA Team CEO Gerhard Ungar. Marvin Dienst and Jenneau Esmeijer raced the full 2015 season while Carrie Schreiner ran a partial season. Dienst won eight races and clinched the championship, while Esmeijer settled for seventh. At the end of 2015 Ralf Schumacher took over the role from Brücker renaming the team US Racing, ending the involvement from HTP Motorsport in ADAC Formula 4.

2016-2017: Return to Mercedes-Benz

The cooperation with Bentley lasted only one season. The team returned to Mercedes-Benz for 2016. The team entered four cars, in the Blancpain GT Series and at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. The team opted not to continue in the ADAC GT Masters. Team owner Wim de Pundert also returned to the racing seat in the gentleman driver based 2016 Blancpain GT Sports Club. The return to Mercedes-Benz also meant new factory drivers joined the team such as Indy Dontje, Thomas Jäger and Christian Hohenadel. Former Mercedes-Benz factory drivers also returned such as Buhk and Baumann. Buhk and Baumann, joined by Jazeman Jaafar, won a single race at Silverstone in the newly introduced Mercedes-AMG GT3. In 2017 the team also returned to the ADAC GT Masters, but without notable results. In the Blancpain GT Endurance Cup Buhk, joined by Jimmy Eriksson and Franck Perera scored three podium finishes placing them third in the drivers championship.

HTP Motorsport was one of the teams selected by AMG Customer Racing to test the Mercedes-AMG GT4 in the 2017 Touring Car Endurance Series. Debuting at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Dontje, Bernd Schneider and Jörg Viebahn suffered technical difficulties after running at the front early in the race.

2017-2020: HTP Motorsport and Winward Racing

In 2017, HTP Motorsport continued its Mercedes-AMG GT3 programme in the Blancpain GT Series, with Maximilian Buhk, Jimmy Eriksson and Franck Perera scoring three podiums in the Endurance Cup and finishing third in the drivers' championship.

In 2018, HTP Motorsport won the ADAC GT Masters teams' championship with the MANN-FILTER Mercedes-AMG GT3 programme. Maximilian Götz, Markus Pommer, Maximilian Buhk and Indy Dontje all contributed to the team's successful campaign.

HTP Motorsport began working with the American Winward Racing organisation in 2017, initially competing together with Mercedes-AMG GT4 machinery in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. The partnership grew over the following seasons, and in 2019 the two organisations announced the creation of HTP Winward Motorsport, combining HTP's European experience with Winward's American operations.

The new HTP Winward Motorsport operation began competing in 2020, continuing programmes in the ADAC GT Masters and ADAC GT4 Germany. The team also returned to the GT World Challenge Europe, marking HTP Motorsport's return to the championship formerly known as the Blancpain GT Series. The programme further strengthened the team's presence in European GT3 racing.

2021: International expansion and major successes

The 2021 season marked a major step in Winward Racing's international expansion. The team made its DTM debut with two Mercedes-AMG GT3s for Lucas Auer and Philip Ellis. Auer won two races and finished fifth in the drivers' championship, while Ellis claimed one victory and finished seventh. Winward Racing ended the season third in the teams' championship.

In North America, the team made its IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship debut at the 24 Hours of Daytona, where the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Russell Ward, Philip Ellis, Indy Dontje and Maro Engel won the GTD class. Winward Racing also continued its programme in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup.

Following the expansion of its international programmes, the team ended its ADAC GT Masters and ADAC GT4 Germany programmes after the 2021 season, choosing to concentrate its resources on its newly established DTM programme, as well as its growing IMSA and GT World Challenge Europe activities.

2022-2023: Consolidation in international GT racing

In 2022, Winward Racing continued its programmes in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the GT World Challenge Europe. The No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3, driven primarily by Russell Ward and Philip Ellis, became a regular contender in the IMSA GTD class. The team scored several victories during the season, including wins at Virginia International Raceway and Road America, and remained in contention for the GTD championship until the finale.

In Europe, Winward Racing continued its GT World Challenge Europe programme with the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3. Lucas Auer, Lorenzo Ferrari and Jens Liebhauser were among the drivers competing for the team during the Endurance Cup.

In 2023, Winward Racing continued to focus on its international GT3 programmes, particularly in IMSA and GT World Challenge Europe. The team continued to field the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 for Russell Ward, Philip Ellis and Indy Dontje in Europe, while also expanding its European presence with a second entry in the Gold Cup in GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup.

2024: Championship success in IMSA and GT World Challenge Europe

The 2024 season was one of the most successful in Winward Racing's history. In the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Russell Ward and Philip Ellis, won the GTD Drivers' and Teams' Championships. The team also won the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring, followed by a victory at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen, securing the Michelin Endurance Cup titles in GTD. Mercedes-AMG also won the GTD manufacturers' championship.

In the GT World Challenge Europe, Winward Racing achieved major success with its MANN-FILTER programme. Maro Engel and Lucas Auer won the Overall Drivers' Championship, combining their results from the Sprint and Endurance Cups. The pair also secured the Sprint Cup Drivers' title with Winward Racing Team MANN-FILTER.

In the Endurance Cup, the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Colin Caresani, Daan Arrow and Tanart Sathienthirakul won both the Silver Cup Drivers' and Teams' Championships. The trio secured the title before the final round after a strong season of consistent results.

2025: Back-to-back IMSA titles and continued international success

The 2025 season confirmed Winward Racing's position among the leading Mercedes-AMG customer teams. In the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 of Russell Ward and Philip Ellis, joined by Indy Dontje for the endurance rounds, successfully defended the GTD Drivers' and Teams' Championships. The team continued to score victories and podiums throughout the season, strengthening its position as one of the leading GTD teams in North America.

In the DTM, Winward Racing continued with Maro Engel and Jules Gounon. Engel enjoyed a strong campaign, finishing third in the drivers' championship with 184 points, while Gounon finished ninth. Winward Racing also finished third in the teams' championship, behind Manthey EMA and Schubert Motorsport.

In Europe, Winward Racing continued its involvement in the GT World Challenge Europe, maintaining its Mercedes-AMG GT3 programmes across the Sprint and Endurance Cups.

Main Championship Titles

• ADAC Formula 4
  • Drivers’ Champion in 2015
• ADAC GT Masters
  • Teams’ Champion in 2018
• FIA GT3 European Championship
  • Overall Teams’ Champion in 2011 and 2012
  • Overall Drivers’ Champion in 2012
• GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup
  • Overall Drivers’ Champion in 2026
  • Silver Teams’ Champion in 2024
  • Silver Drivers’ Champion in 2024
• GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup
  • Overall Drivers’ Champion in 2014, 2015 and 2024
  • Silver Teams’ Champion in 2015 and 2017
  • Silver Drivers’ Champion in 2015 and 2017
  • Pro-Am Teams’ Champion in 2013
  • Pro-Am Drivers’ Champion in 2013
• GT World Challenge Europe
  • Overall Drivers’ Champion in 2016 and 2024
  • Overall Teams’ Champion in 2016
• IMSA SportsCar Championship
  • GTD Teams’ Champion in 2024 and 2025
  • GTD Drivers’ Champion in 2024 and 2025
  • GTD Teams’ Champion in Michelin Endurance Cup in 2024
  • GTD Drivers’ Champion in Michelin Endurance Cup in 2024
• Middle East Trophy
  • Overall Teams’ Champion in 2025
  • GT3 PRO-AM Teams’ Champion in 2025
  • GT3 PRO-AM Drivers’ Champion in 2025

Notable Victories

• Overall Winner - 2013 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps
• Overall Winner - 2013 6 Hours of Nürburgring
• Class Winner - 2019 24 Hours of Dubaï
• GTD Winner - 2021 24 Hours of Daytona
• GTD Winner - 2024 24 Hours of Daytona
• GTD Winner - 2024 12 Hours of Sebring
• GTD Winner - 2024 6 Hours of Watkins Glen
• Overall Winner - 2024 6 Hours of Jeddah
• GTD Winner - 2025 12 Hours of Sebring
• GTD Winner - 2026 24 Hours of Daytona
• Overall Winner - 2026 24 Hours of Nürburgring
• Overall Winner - 2026 6 Hours of Nürburgring
• GTD Winner - 2026 6 Hours of Road America

Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters

^* Season still in progress.

24 Hours of Nürburgring

24 Hours of Spa

IMSA SportsCar Championship

^* Season still in progress.

Michelin Pilot Challenge

^* Season still in progress.

24 Hours of Dubai

ADAC GT Masters

ADAC Formula 4

In detail

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Asian Le Mans Series

Gulf 12 Hours