Marciello Replaces Ellis in Winward Lineup for Watkins Glen

Raffaele Marciello has been drafted into Winward Racing’s GTD driver lineup for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen this weekend as a one-off replacement for Philip Ellis.

The reigning Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup and ADAC GT Masters champion will share the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo with Indy Dontje and Russell Ward.

Ellis is unable to take part in the third round of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup season due to a “personal engagement” according to Winward co-owner Bryce Ward.

However, the full-time WeatherTech Championship driver is expected to return to the No. 57 entry after Watkins Glen and is also due to drive for the Winward team at next weekend’s CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa.

Marciello is set for his first WeatherTech Championship outing in a Mercedes-AMG since last year’s Long Beach round 14 months ago when he represented WeatherTech Racing.

The Swiss ace more recently contested the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January but that LMP2 cameo occurred in a High Class Racing Oreca 07 Gibson.

“It’s a nice race and a nice, historic track,” Marciello told Sportscar365 shortly after arriving in the Watkins Glen paddock.

“It’s always nice to do this kind of race. I haven’t done so much IMSA, actually.

“I only did Daytona twice [in a Mercedes-AMG] and Long Beach last year, and a few years ago I did a round at Lime Rock in the old Pirelli World Challenge [in 2018].

“I’m not so experienced in America, but it’s nice to be here and we’ll see what happens.

“Winward is a new team for me but I know the people there from HTP [Motorsport]. I feel at home already because it’s people I know and I was close to racing with them a few times in the past.”

Marciello added that he received the call to compete at Watkins Glen about a week ago.

The event falls in between a drive in the Intelligent Money British GT Championship round at Snetterton and his pursuit of a second consecutive 24 Hours of Spa win next weekend.