One of the most inspiring stories in motorsports history has to be the comeback of Robert Wickens, left a paraplegic after a devastating 2018 crash at Pocono but never losing his competitive spirit.
Now, Wickens will join the DXDT Racing team in a Corvette Z06 GT3.R for the sprint rounds of the 2025 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship, thanks to his overwhelming talent behind the wheel, his never-say-die attitude, and the use of a Bosch hand-control system.
“This is the opportunity I have been seeking for quite a while now, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support from David Askew at DXDT, Bosch and General Motors,” Wickens said. “My goal since returning to racing was to race in the IMSA Weathertech Series, so to tick that box with a limited schedule in 2025 is a huge step in achieving my goals. It was never going to be an easy task, but when great minds put their heads together anything is possible.”
Wickens’ successful career dates back to his single-seater racing days in 2011 when he won the Formula Renault 3.5 title. Beginning in 2012, he then racked up six wins and 15 podiums in GT racing with the Mercedes-AMG factory program before moving over to the IndyCar Series with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in 2018. After earning the pole position in his debut race and capturing second place in the next, Wickens took three more podiums before the devastating crash that left him with a severe spinal cord injury.
Not to be defeated, however, Wickens was back at the wheel of a Hyundai Elantra N TCR just three years later, using a Bosch hand-control system in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series. He took his first wins since the accident in 2022 at Watkins Glen and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
More success followed in 2023 when he and co-driver Harry Gottsacker claimed seven podiums during their championship season in IMPC TCR. He then finished second in the same division the next year and now heads to another new challenge in the IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship in 2025.
DXDT team owner David Askew says it’s “always great” to add a driver of Wickens’ caliber to the team. “He is a top driver and has shown through drive and resilience that nothing is out of reach, evidenced by his race wins and championship titles in TCR,” Askew said. “It’s certainly going to be a new challenge for all of us, but it’s one I’m so excited to take on. I know with all the work by us, Bosch, GM, and Pratt Miller this offseason, we’re in a good position to hit the ground running in Long Beach.”
Likewise, Mark Stielow, Director, GM Motorsports Competition Programs, says he’s proud to be a part of the Wickens team.
“For many years, Corvette Racing and Bosch have worked together to drive innovation in motorsports, most notably through the Collision Avoidance System that is now common in sports car paddocks around the world,” Stielow said. “It means a tremendous amount for Robert and Bosch to choose the Corvette Z06 GT3.R and DXDT Racing as they achieve their goal of making racing more inclusive to all competitors around the world, no matter the series or classification.”
Source:
DXDT Racing
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Robert Wickens is a great man and an inspiration to all.
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