SHERIDAN, WYOMING - January 22, 2026 - Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing entered the 64th running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona with five Mercedes-AMG GT3 cars fielded by a combination of established and returning teams, underlining the brand's continued commitment to customer-led competition in top-tier endurance racing. Following a productive Roar Before the Rolex 24 test weekend, teams including Winward Racing, Bartone Bros. Racing with Team GetSpeed, 75 Express SunEnergy1 Racing, and Lone Star Racing arrived at Daytona International Speedway positioned to compete across both GT Daytona (GTD) and GTD Pro classes in the season-opening IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship event.
Strong Customer Racing Presence Across GTD and GTD Pro
The 2026 Rolex 24 marked a significant customer racing effort for Mercedes-AMG, with five GT3 entries split between the two IMSA GT categories. Winward Racing expanded to a two-car operation, fielding entries in both GTD and GTD Pro, while 75 Express SunEnergy1 Racing, Bartone Bros. Racing with Team GetSpeed, and Lone Star Racing each returned with single-car programs. Collectively, the teams completed 981 laps during the Roar test sessions, covering nearly 3,500 miles and providing extensive data for setup optimization and race preparation.
Winward Racing Builds on Championship Momentum
Winward Racing arrived at Daytona as the reigning IMSA GTD champions, carrying forward a driver lineup that previously converted endurance resilience into season-long success. The No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 returned in GTD competition, while the team also launched its first two-car GTD Pro program. This expansion reflected both operational confidence and a strategic step toward deeper engagement in top-tier customer racing categories within IMSA.
"I love Daytona. It will be my fifth time returning to the Rolex 24, and I'm super excited for that. Two weeks ago, somebody asked me, a Dutch guy and friend, 'hey, are you ready for the race? Are you thinking you're going to win or are you talking about going for the win?' And then I said, 'to be honest with you, every year we are in the mix, and we have a chance to win, a chance for the podium.' I think we have never had a year where we didn't fight for that. So, yeah, I'm looking forward to the race again after last weekend's Roar. I even feel more confident we have a good car."
Experienced Lineups Strengthen GTD Pro Contingent
In GTD Pro, the Bartone Bros. Racing with Team GetSpeed entry returned for a second consecutive Rolex 24, joined by a reinforced driver lineup that blended prior class success with endurance experience. The No. 75 Express SunEnergy1 Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 also stepped up into GTD Pro competition, building on previous near-podium finishes and a strong showing during pre-race testing.
"The Rolex 24 is a very big event that I've wanted to do for a long time. So, really happy to be here, and doing it with Kenny Habul. You know, we raced against each other years ago in Australia, in Formula Ford and Formula 3. We've talked about it actually for a while, and a couple of times it fell through because of situations, but I like it. I am having a lot of fun."
Lone Star Racing Targets Progress in GTD
Lone Star Racing returned to GTD competition for its third Rolex 24 start, continuing its development trajectory within IMSA endurance racing. After leading portions of the race in its previous appearance, the team focused on consistency and execution, supported by a driver lineup blending returning familiarity with new endurance experience.
"Well, first of all, I'm super happy to be here for the second time, although I just went to the new driver briefing just to refresh everything because I don't do IMSA all of the time. The team is very well prepared. They were well prepared last year as well, but I think they've taken another step this year."
GT4 Programs Extend Customer Racing Footprint
Beyond the GT3 field, Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing also maintained a presence in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. Winward Racing and Murillo Racing entered Mercedes-AMG GT4 cars in the season-opening four-hour race, extending customer participation across multiple IMSA platforms and reinforcing the brand's end-to-end customer racing ecosystem.
The Rolex 24 At Daytona officially began with practice and qualifying on January 22, followed by the 24-hour race starting on January 24, serving as a key benchmark for teams' technical readiness, driver endurance, and operational execution at the outset of the 2026 season.
Learn more about Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing at https://www.mercedes-amg.com/en/customer-racing.