Morad: Daytona Win Led to Fanatec GT Europe Opportunity

Daniel Morad has credited his performance in January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona as a key factor in securing a drive in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup with Winward Racing.

The Canadian driver was confirmed earlier this month as part of Winward’s Pro lineup in the European endurance series, sharing a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo with factory drivers Maro Engel and Lucas Auer.

It will be Morad’s first full season racing in Europe, although he previously joined Al Manar Racing by HRT for a one-off outing in the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa in 2022.

His move to Europe comes after several years of racing Mercedes-AMG machinery in the U.S. and scoring notable race wins like the Indianapolis 8 Hour in 2022.

However, Morad explained that it was his recent GTD victory at Daytona with Winward that paved the way for his European opportunity.

There, he drove the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo, which he shared with Russell Ward, Indy Dontje and Philip Ellis, to victory by holding off Ferrari factory driver Miguel Molina in a straight duel.

“Daytona changed quite a bit for me,” Morad told Sportscar365.

“[Before] Daytona I had just the Daytona GT3 [seat], plus GT4 with Winward. It just all kind of came about because of the final stints.

“I was really putting a lot of pressure, I wanted that opportunity to drive in Europe and I knew there was one spot open in the Winward car.

“It was a really good fit and I think the timing on everything worked out with Mercedes-AMG trusting that I can do the job with the pressure.

“Because that’s the big thing, just knowing that I had the speed but it’s another thing dealing with pressure and coping with it and executing.

“That was just the missing component on the list. Even though I showed it in GT4, they still wanted to see it on the highest level.

“That was really good and it’s awesome. I mean, you can’t ask for a better program. Maro and Luggi are the top guys.

“Winward is an incredible team, it’s the top Mercedes team in the world and we have the best engineering staff, best mechanics. You can literally not ask for a better program to start your European campaign.”

Morad described the opportunity to compete in Fanatec GT as “huge for my career,” as it will provide him with an opportunity to take his development as a driver to the “next level.”

“I feel like a lot of manufacturers and teams regard the European racing as the pinnacle of competition,” Morad said.

“So if you make it there and if you’re competing on the European stage then you’re taken a little bit more seriously.

“Even though IMSA and the level is really high, you almost have to do Europe and go through that process to be to take your career and your status to the next level and to establish yourself inside your own manufacturer once you make it into a program to even move up the totem pole.

“So I really appreciate the confidence that Mercedes has given me and the opportunity that Winward gives has given me as well, because ultimately the customer teams also have a huge say on the drivers.

“If they don’t want a driver then, they don’t get the driver. At the end of the day the manufacturer will push as much as they want, but it’s the team’s decision through customer racing to have the drivers they want.

“It’s going to be good. I’ll learn a lot. I think that my level is really high. I have a lot of confidence and I have a lot of belief.”