The German outfit that won the 2018 ADAC GT Masters team championship will line up with American team, Winward Racing, next motor racing season under the name HTP Winward Motorsport. The merger will create the world's largest Mercedes-AMG customer racing team. Collaboration between the squad from Altendiez in Germany and the crew managed by Bryce and Russell Ward based in Houston, Texas, has been on-going since the 2017 season. Since then, in conjunction with HTP Motorsport, Winward Racing have fielded several Mercedes-AMG GT4s in a number of races, including the American IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.

Both partners intend to expand their respective programmes for next season. While a Mercedes-AMG GT3 will also be raced in future in the USA, HTP Winward Motorsport will contest the ADAC GT Masters and ADAC GT4 Germany in 2020. Race outings at the Nordschleife are set to continue and the possibility of a test programme in the GT World Challenge investigated.

In the management sphere, too, the new alliance is being strengthened in order to ensure a successful future, as Christian Hohenadel, an experienced racing driver with intimate, expert knowledge of the motor racing scene will be joining senior management at HTP Winward Motorsport.

"I'm delighted that we are taking successful cooperation between HTP Motorsport and Winward Racing to the next level, setting the course for a promising future for both partners," said HTP Team Principal, Norbert Brückner. "After two successful, very enjoyable years working together, we are now combining synergies and, starting next year, will also join forces in Europe where Christian Hohenadel will use his enormous experience to provide valuable support. Together, we will do our utmost to ensure that HTP Winward Motorsport are one of the top outfits with our Mercedes-AMG GT3s and GT4s wherever we compete."