Daniel Morad
Daniel Morad (born April 24, 1990) is a Canadian professional race car driver specializing in sports car racing, serving as a factory driver for Mercedes-AMG since 2021.[1] Born in Toronto, Ontario, he began his racing career in karting at age eight and progressed through junior formulas, winning the Formula BMW USA championship in 2007 before transitioning to sports cars in North America in 2015.[2][3] Morad's notable achievements include securing the IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup North America championship in 2016 and achieving runner-up in the 2017 Pirelli World Challenge SprintX series.[4] On his debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in 2017, he won the GTD class, marking a breakthrough in endurance racing.[1] He claimed a second victory in the event's GTD class in 2024 while driving for Winward Racing in a Mercedes-AMG GT3.[1] Additional highlights encompass a win at the 2022 Indianapolis 8 Hour and a race victory in Jeddah during the 2024 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, contributing to his teammates' title success.[1] In March 2025, Morad was promoted to Mercedes-AMG's 'Performance' factory driver status, recognizing his expertise in GT3 machinery and endurance events.[5] In 2025, he competed in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship's GTD class with Korthoff Competition Motors and in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge with Winward Racing, alongside participating in select GT World Challenge races.[4][6] Beyond the track, Morad is a sim racing enthusiast and co-founder of Moradness, a motorsport-inspired lifestyle clothing brand.[3]Early life
Family background
Daniel Morad was born on April 24, 1990, in Markham, Ontario, Canada, to parents Robin and Ramsin Morad.[7][8][9] His family maintains Middle Eastern heritage with Assyrian roots, tracing back to Lebanon through his paternal lineage; his grandfather Shaol Morad was born in Beirut in 1926, and the family relocated to Canada when his father Ramsin was 18 years old.[10][2] Morad has one younger sister, Kayla.[11] Raised in the Greater Toronto Area, he grew up immersed in the region's vibrant local motorsport scene, which his family supported as he transitioned to karting at age eight.[12]Introduction to racing
Daniel Morad began his racing career in karting at the age of eight, starting on April 24, 1998—his birthday—with his first go-kart session at the Goodwood Kartways track in Stouffville, Ontario.[12] Growing up in nearby Markham, he was introduced to the sport through family encouragement, as his mother supported karting as a safer alternative to ice hockey.[12] Morad trained regularly at local Ontario facilities like Goodwood, honing his skills in a hobby that quickly evolved into a competitive pursuit.[12] By his early teens, Morad achieved his first competitive successes in regional karting events, securing wins in junior classes through the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship, including back-to-back Canada Junior (Honda) titles in 2002 and 2003.[13] These victories came at tracks across Ontario, such as Goodwood and Barrie, where he demonstrated consistent speed against regional rivals.[14] His progression was bolstered by involvement in local karting clubs and initial sponsorship from teams like Sunoco Team Ultra 94, which provided equipment and travel support funded partly by family contributions.[12] Morad expanded his experience to national-level competitions in Canada, participating in events like the Canadian National Karting Championships, where he podiumed in junior categories as early as 2003 at Mosport.[15] He also ventured into international winter series, notably winning the Pro Shifter class in the 2005 Florida Winter Tour, a multi-round event that tested his adaptability on warmer southern tracks. These early achievements marked his transition from casual racing to a structured competitive path, supported by growing recognition from Ontario's karting community.[12]Racing career
Karting and junior formulas
Morad began his racing career in karting at the age of eight in local tracks around Ontario, Canada.[12] In 2005, at age 15, he secured his first major national title by winning the Canadian National Karting Championships in the Senior class, driving for First Kart North America and accumulating 944 points over the season.[4] That same year, Morad also claimed victory in the Florida Winter Tour's Pro Shifter category, marking his early dominance in shifter kart competitions.[4] He followed this with additional karting successes, including multiple wins in the Rotax Max Challenge series at regional and national levels, which qualified him for international events.[2] Transitioning toward single-seaters in 2006, Morad competed in the Bridgestone F2000 Racing Series, a Canadian entry-level formula car championship, where he won the title with AIM Autosport, securing one victory and 75 points across 14 races.[4] In 2006, Morad also competed in the Formula BMW USA championship with AIM Autosport, where he won the Rookie of the Year title and finished sixth overall.[4] In 2007, Morad's breakthrough in junior formulas came at just 17, when he dominated the Formula BMW USA Championship driving for EuroInternational. He achieved six wins, ten podiums, three pole positions, and six fastest laps over 14 races, clinching the title with 523 points and outperforming future stars like Esteban Gutiérrez and Alexander Rossi.[4][16] This victory earned him recognition as a top junior talent and paved the way for higher series.[12] Returning to karting briefly in 2010 at age 20, Morad capped his junior phase by winning the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals World Championship in the DD2 class, representing Team Canada at the event in La Conca, Italy. Starting from 13th in the final, he overtook the leader on lap 13 to secure the win in a field of international competitors.[17][4][18]Single-seater progression
Following his success as the 2007 Formula BMW USA champion, where he secured six victories and set multiple records en route to the title, Morad progressed to the Atlantic Championship in 2008 with EuroInternational.[19][20][7] He competed in eight races that season, accumulating 95 points and finishing 12th in the standings, gaining valuable experience in the competitive North American open-wheel series despite no podiums.[4] Morad then gained international exposure in the A1 Grand Prix series during the 2008-09 season, representing A1 Team Lebanon with Super Nova Racing.[7] He participated in all 14 events, scoring eight points for the team and achieving a best result of sixth place, which helped place A1 Team Lebanon 17th overall amid the series' high-profile national team format.[4] Earlier, in the 2007-08 season, he had made select appearances for A1 Team Canada, including rookie sessions and practice runs at events like Brands Hatch, providing initial exposure to the global stage before the full-season commitment.[21][22] In 2010, Morad advanced to the GP3 Series with Status Grand Prix, marking his entry into European feeder formulas closely aligned with Formula One.[4] He demonstrated potential by winning the feature race at Silverstone—his lone victory in the category—and securing one additional podium, which contributed to 15 points and a 12th-place championship finish across 16 races.[23][4] The following year, he returned to GP3 for four races with Carlin but struggled to score, highlighting the challenges of adapting to varying team setups in the ultra-competitive environment.[24][4] Morad also sampled the North American ladder further in 2011 with two starts in Indy Lights for Team Moore Racing, earning 34 points and ending 26th in the standings as he balanced commitments across continents.[4] These mid-tier open-wheel campaigns, blending regional consistency with international stints, underscored his versatility but also the hurdles in securing sustained top results, paving the way for his eventual shift toward GT and endurance racing.[25]GT and sports car racing
Morad's entry into GT and sports car racing marked a pivotal shift from open-wheel single-seaters, where his experience with high-speed cornering and precise car control facilitated a smooth adaptation to the more robust, rear-engine dynamics of GT machinery in sprint-format events.[26] Beginning in 2015, Morad competed in the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada series, driving the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup for Alegra Motorsports, and continued into 2016, where he clinched the Platinum Cup championship with three victories, including at the Toronto Indy in torrential rain, and nine podium finishes across ten races, demonstrating consistent front-running pace on Canadian circuits like Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Circuit ICAR.[27][26] Morad's progression deepened in 2017 and 2018 with the Pirelli World Challenge, racing in the GT and GTC classes primarily for CRP Racing but including SprintX events with Global Motorsports Group, where he secured four overall wins in 26 starts, highlighted by a pole-to-flag Sprint GT victory at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in rainy conditions and shared SprintX triumphs at Virginia International Raceway and Circuit of the Americas.[28][29][30] In 2024, Morad also secured a victory in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup at Jeddah, contributing to his teammates' championship success.[1]Endurance racing achievements
Daniel Morad achieved his first major endurance racing victory at the 2017 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona, securing the GTD class win for Alegra Motorsports in a Porsche 911 GT3 R alongside teammates Michael Christensen, Jesse Lazare, Carlos de Quesada, and Michael de Quesada.[31] The triumph came in a dramatic finish, with the No. 28 entry edging out competitors by capitalizing on strategic pit stops and consistent stints during the 24-hour event, highlighting Morad's ability to manage tire wear and fuel efficiency in high-stakes, multi-driver scenarios.[32] This success marked a breakthrough in his transition to professional GT endurance racing, building on his prior Porsche GT3 Cup experience. In the following years, Morad continued competing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship's GTD class, racing with multiple teams and adapting to different machinery. During the 2018 season, he made select appearances, including with P1 Motorsports in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 and Montaplast by Land-Motorsport in an Audi R8 LMS GT3, focusing on endurance events that demanded precise pacing and team coordination over long distances.[4] The 2019 campaign saw him return to Montaplast by Land-Motorsport for the Michelin Endurance Cup, where he co-drove the No. 29 Audi R8 LMS GT3 to a fourth-place class finish at the 12 Hours of Sebring, navigating challenging wet conditions and mechanical pressures to maintain competitive positioning.[33] These outings underscored his versatility in endurance formats, emphasizing reliability and strategic decision-making amid variable weather and traffic. Morad's endurance prowess culminated in a second GTD class victory at the 2024 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona with Winward Racing in the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3, shared with Russell Ward, Philip Ellis, and Indy Dontje.[34] The win, achieved through flawless execution in a race plagued by rain and safety car periods, reinforced his reputation for delivering under pressure in flagship endurance tests.[35] Additionally, Morad participated in the 2017 Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour with Alegra Motorsports' Porsche 911 GT3 R, gaining valuable international endurance experience on the demanding Mount Panorama circuit.[36]Recent IMSA seasons
In 2024, Daniel Morad competed in a full season of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship's GT Daytona (GTD) class with Winward Racing, driving the No. 57 Mercedes-AMG GT3 alongside Philip Ellis and Russell Ward. The team secured a class victory at the Rolex 24 At Daytona, where Morad drove the final stint to hold off challengers by 2.731 seconds for Winward's second GTD win in four years. Despite the strong start, the season featured solid but inconsistent finishes, culminating in 364 points and a 47th-place finish in the GTD driver standings.[35][37][38] For the 2025 IMSA SportsCar Championship GTD class, Morad switched to Korthoff Competition Motors in the No. 32 Mercedes-AMG GT3, partnering with Mike Skeen and others across the 10-round schedule. Through the season's conclusion in November, the team amassed 560 points, placing Morad 31st in the driver standings with three class podiums, including strong performances at Watkins Glen International and Road America that contributed to his best results of the year.[4] Morad has served as a factory driver for Mercedes-AMG since his promotion in March 2025, maintaining an ongoing contract that supports his customer racing efforts in IMSA and beyond.[5] In addition to his IMSA commitments, Morad participated in the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa in both 2024 and 2025. In 2024, he raced with Al Manar Racing by HRT in a Mercedes-AMG GT3, qualifying on the front row in the Pro class but retiring due to mechanical issues after an early lead. For 2025, he joined Winward Racing in the No. 57 entry, adding to his endurance racing portfolio alongside his IMSA schedule.[39][40]Personal life
Family and marriage
Daniel Morad was born into a family based in Markham, Ontario.[41] Morad married Jess Morad in May 2022, with the couple holding a formal wedding celebration in June 2023 in the south of France that united their families from different continents.[42] The couple resides primarily in Canada while frequently traveling to the United States for Morad's racing commitments, allowing them to maintain a balance between professional obligations and their personal relationship.[43] Jess provides steadfast support to Morad throughout his demanding career in motorsport.[44]Business ventures and media presence
In 2017, shortly after his victory at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Daniel Morad co-founded Moradness, a lifestyle performance brand inspired by motorsport that specializes in apparel, sim racing gear, and fan merchandise.[45][46] The brand emerged from Morad's desire to create racing-themed products, starting with custom hats featuring a stylized "M" logo that sold out rapidly during pre-race events.[25] Over the years, Moradness expanded to include performance gloves, breathable sim socks with pedal-grip soles, and crew apparel, with growth fueled by Morad's racing success and online presence; by 2025, it had sponsored initiatives like the iRacing Team Endurance Series through partnerships with teams such as Champion Motorsports.[47][48] Morad extended his media presence by launching a YouTube channel in the years following his 2017 Daytona win, building a community around his dual passions for real-world racing and simulation.[49] By November 2025, the channel had approximately 59,000 subscribers and featured over 150 videos focused on racing vlogs, sim racing setups and techniques, and behind-the-scenes insights into professional motorsport life.[49] Notable content includes tutorials on endurance racing strategies and equipment reviews, such as his 2024 series documenting preparations for the Rolex 24 at Daytona, which highlighted sim-based training and team dynamics.[50] This platform has allowed Morad to engage fans interactively, often cross-promoting Moradness products like sim racing accessories. Parallel to his entrepreneurial efforts, Morad explored music as a creative outlet, beginning DJ sets at age 19 and formalizing side projects in 2017 under the "State of Moradness" banner.[25] These initiatives included live DJ events at race weekends, such as performances during the Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, blending high-energy mixes with the motorsport atmosphere to connect with attendees.[51] He shared tracks on SoundCloud, drawing from electronic and upbeat genres to reflect his "Moradness" lifestyle theme.[52] As a prominent sim racing enthusiast, Morad actively advocates for its role in professional training and esports, frequently testing and endorsing gear to bridge virtual and real-world racing.[49] Through Moradness, he promotes specialized items like sim socks engineered for enhanced pedal control and comfort during extended sessions, as demonstrated in his personal reviews and on-track applications.[53][54] This advocacy underscores his commitment to making sim racing accessible and performance-oriented for aspiring drivers.Racing record
Career summary
Daniel Morad began his racing career in karting in 1998 at the age of eight, competing in various events across Canada and the United States where he secured multiple championships before transitioning to single-seater racing in 2006.[55][56] His early single-seater progression included the Formula BMW USA series in 2006 with AIM Autosport, where he earned Rookie of the Year honors after winning races such as Round 2 at Mid-Ohio.[57] In 2007, driving for EuroInternational, Morad claimed the Formula BMW Americas championship with six victories.[2] He continued in 2008 with EuroInternational in the Atlantic Championship and represented A1 Team Lebanon in the A1 Grand Prix series.[2] Morad's single-seater efforts peaked in 2010 with Status Grand Prix in the GP3 Series, where he achieved one win at the Silverstone sprint race and finished 12th in the standings, before a brief stint in Indy Lights with Team Moore Racing in 2011, racing in eight events and parting ways after the Edmonton round (34 points, 26th overall). Following a four-year hiatus from 2011 to 2015 due to funding challenges, Morad shifted focus to GT and endurance racing upon his return in 2015, competing in the Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama where he finished second in the Platinum class.[25] This marked the beginning of his successful pivot to sports car disciplines, highlighted by his 2016 IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup North America championship win.[3] In 2017, Morad secured his first Rolex 24 at Daytona victory in the GTD class with Alegra Motorsports in a Porsche 911 GT3 R, alongside Michael Christensen, Jesse Lazare, Carlos de Quesada, and Michael de Quesada. He briefly ventured into stock car racing in 2016, entering two NASCAR Pinty's Series events—including a third-place qualification and five laps led at the Toronto Indy—resulting in one top-5 finish.[58][59] Morad's GT and endurance career has flourished since 2015, with key partnerships including Winward Racing for select IMSA and GT World Challenge events starting in 2024, and Korthoff Competition for the 2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD class driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3.[60][4] He repeated his Rolex 24 success in 2024, winning the GTD class with Winward Racing in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 alongside Russell Ward, Philip Ellis, and Indy Dontje.[34] Over 17 years of active professional racing as of 2015—spanning karting through his current endurance focus—Morad has amassed multiple national titles, including the 2007 Formula BMW Americas and 2016 Porsche GT3 Cup, alongside two Rolex 24 triumphs that underscore his endurance prowess.[61] His business ventures, such as the Moradness apparel brand, have complemented his racing visibility through media and streaming platforms.[62]Formula BMW USA 2007
Daniel Morad competed in the 2007 Formula BMW USA season with EuroInternational, securing the championship with 523 points after 14 races, including 6 wins, 10 podiums, 3 pole positions, and 6 fastest laps.[4]| Round | Circuit | Qualifying Position | Race Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miller Motorsports Park | - | 1 | Win[63] |
| 5 | Indianapolis | 3 | - | Qualifying result[64] |
| 7 | Lime Rock | - | 1 | Win[65] |
| 10 | San Jose | - | 2 | Podium[66] |
| - | Overall | - | 1st | 523 points, 6 wins, 10 podiums, 3 poles, 6 FL[4] |
Atlantic Championship 2008
Morad participated in 8 races of the 2008 Atlantic Championship with EuroInternational, finishing 12th in the drivers' standings with 95 points and no wins or podiums.[4]| Year | Team | Races | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | EuroInternational | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 95 | 12th[4] |
A1 Grand Prix 2007-2008
In the 2007-2008 A1 Grand Prix season, Morad raced for Team Lebanon, completing 14 events and scoring 8 points for 17th in the drivers' standings, with a best finish of 6th in the South Africa sprint race.[4] (Note: Wikipedia snippet for best finish verification, but primary from DriverDB stats.)| Season | Team | Races | Wins | Podiums | Points | Position | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-2008 | Team Lebanon | 14 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 17th | 6th (South Africa)[4] |
GP3 Series 2010
Morad competed in the 2010 GP3 Series with Status Grand Prix, participating in 16 races, earning 35 points for 12th in the championship standings, with one win and one podium.[4]| Year | Team | Races | Wins | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Status Grand Prix | 16 | 1 | 1 | 35 | 12th[4] |
Indy Lights 2011
Morad raced in the 2011 Indy Lights season with Team Moore Racing, participating in 8 races and earning 34 points for 26th overall, with no wins or podiums. He parted ways after the Edmonton round.[4]| Year | Team | Races | Wins | Podiums | Points | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Team Moore Racing | 8 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 26th | Parted after Edmonton |
Complete GT and sports car results
Daniel Morad began his GT racing career in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada in 2015, competing in the Platinum class with Alegra Motorsports in a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. He contested all 10 races that season, securing one victory at the Toronto Indy and nine podium finishes, which earned him 165 points and second place in the championship standings.[67] In 2016, Morad returned with Porsche Centre Oakville/Alegra Motorsports, again in the Platinum class. He participated in 12 races across the Canada and USA series, achieving four wins, ten podiums, six pole positions, and one fastest lap for a total of 205 points, clinching the championship title and the inaugural IMSA North American Cup.[4][27][68]| Year | Races | Wins | Podiums | Poles | Fastest Laps | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 165 | 2nd |
| 2016 | 12 | 4 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 205 | 1st |
| Year | Series Format | Races | Wins | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | SprintX GT Pro | 12 | 1 | 3 | 172 | 2nd |
| 2018 | SprintX/GT | 26 | 3 | 6 | 409 | 8th (combined) |
| Year | Team/Car | Key Races/Results | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Alegra/Porsche 991 GT3 R | Daytona: Lead lap finish | 21 | N/A |
| 2017 | Alegra/Porsche 991 GT3 R | Daytona: 1st (GTD win) | N/A | N/A |
| 2018-2019 | Montaplast/Audi R8 LMS GT3 | Daytona 2019: 2nd (disqualified); Sebring 2019: 3rd | N/A | N/A |
| 2020 | Montaplast/Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo | Daytona: 3rd | N/A | N/A |
| 2024 | Winward/Mercedes-AMG GT3 | Daytona: 1st (GTD win); full season | 364 | 47th |
| 2025 (partial GTD) | Korthoff/Mercedes-AMG GT3 | Daytona: [result pending full verification] | N/A | N/A |
| 2025 (Michelin GS partial) | Winward/Mercedes-AMG GT4 | Watkins Glen: 3rd; Mosport: Ret. (as of Nov 2025) | 560 | 31st |
GT World Challenge and Related Series (2019-2025)
Morad expanded into SRO GT World Challenge series from 2019, competing in Europe, Asia, and America formats with various teams.| Year | Series | Team/Car | Races | Wins | Podiums | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | GTWC Europe Sprint | AKKA ASP/Mercedes-AMG GT3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 15th |
| 2022 | Intercontinental GT Challenge | Craft-Bamboo/BMW M4 GT3 | Select | 1 (Indy 8H) | - | - | - |
| 2023 | GTWC Asia Pro-Am | Craft-Bamboo/BMW M4 GT3 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2024 | GTWC Asia Pro-Am | Craft-Bamboo/BMW M4 GT3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 67 | 12th |
| 2024 | GTWC Europe Endurance | Winward/Mercedes-AMG GT3 | Select | 1 (Jeddah) | - | - | (teammates champions) |