Russell Ward

Russell Ward, born on August 22, 1989, is an accomplished American racing driver and team principal. He currently competes in the IMSA SportsCar Championship for HTP Winward Motorsport, where he also serves as the team's leader. Ward's racing journey began in 2016, following years of track days and participation in events like the ChampCar Endurance Series and 24 Hours of Lemons. His career quickly gained momentum, marked by a podium finish in the Pirelli GT3 Cup Trophy USA at Circuit of the Americas in his debut season.

Ward's career includes participation in various series, including the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, Michelin Pilot Challenge, and the 24H Series. In 2019, he secured his first victory in the Michelin Pilot Challenge at Laguna Seca. A significant milestone came in 2021 with a class victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona, marking Mercedes-AMG's first GTD class win at the event. He complemented his IMSA endeavors with a part-time drive in the GT World Challenge America.

Recent achievements include a successful 2024 season, highlighted by a Rolex 24 At Daytona victory in the GT Daytona class with Winward Racing, and a Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring GTD class win. He has also achieved victories at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and Watkins Glen International. Ward's skills and accomplishments were further recognized when he won Mercedes-AMG’s Pro-Driver GT3 award in 2022, solidifying his status as a top-tier driver in GT racing.