Philip Ellis will partner Intelligent Money British GT Championship points leader James Cottingham at Donington Decider next weekend.
Phil Keen was originally slated to substitute for Cottingham’s full-season co-driver Jonny Adam, who is unable to contest the finale due to a clashing European Le Mans Series commitment. However, 2 Seas has now confirmed that Mercedes-AMG driver Ellis will join its #4 entry instead.
The 31-year-old dual national competes under a Swiss license and has been a member of Mercedes-AMG’s official roster since 2021. He’s represented the manufacturer in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe and America series, DTM, IMSA, GT Masters and Intercontinental GT Challenge Powered by Pirelli – including last weekend at Indianapolis.
However, Donington will mark Ellis’ first-ever British GT appearance when his primary task is to help Cottingham win the drivers’ championship. He starts 13 points ahead of this year’s only other title contenders: Century’s Darren Leung and Dan Harper.
“I am really looking forward to supporting James Cottingham and the 2 Seas Motorsport team at the last round of British GT,” said Ellis. “For me it’s the first time starting in this series, as well as driving at Donington Park. So, personally, I am looking forward to making some new experiences.
“Furthermore, I will do my best to help the team to finish the successful season they have had so far. I’m excited to take on the challenge, and to support them in their championship efforts.”
Adam could yet share the title with Cottingham but only if the rival BMW crew fails to overturn its starting deficit and Cottingham doesn’t add to his season’s total.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better team-mate at the start of the season than Jonny, who we knew would be missing two rounds, and we were fortunate that it ended up being one after the rescheduling of one of the rounds that clashed,” said Cottingham. “Regrettably now, for us, he has to honour his commitments, which we always knew to be the case.
“With the title going down to the wire, Mercedes-AMG have reached out to provide one of their drivers for the final round, to give us the best possible opportunity to push for the best possible result at Donington to challenge for the title. They want to make sure everything possible is done from their side, with no stone left unturned, so it’s exciting to be working with Philip for the weekend, and I’m grateful to Mercedes-AMG for their support, which underlines how seriously they see the British GT Championship.”
Ellis, meanwhile, joins fellow Mercedes-AMG drivers Jules Gounon and Raffaele Marciello on Donington’s entry list.