Robert Wickens will make his IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship race debut at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in April.
DXDT Racing announced on Monday that the Canadian who suffered spinal injuries in an INDYCAR accident at Pocono Raceway in 2018 will compete in the specially modifed No.36 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R.
Competing in the IndyCar Series with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in 2018, Wickens made an immediate impression, taking pole in his debut race and second place in just the second race of the season. He earned three more podiums, but his impressive debut season was brought to a sudden halt after a violent crash at Pocono that sent Wickens to the hospital with a host of injuries, including a spinal cord injury that left him paraplegic.
Three years after his accident, Wickens was back in the cockpit, using a hand-control system to drive a Hyundai Elantra N TCR car in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series. He won at Watkins Glen and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in 2022, which marked his return to victory lane for the first time since his accident.
The following season, he and co-driver Harry Gottsacker earned seven podiums en route to the IMPC TCR championship, a first in sports cars for Wickens. Now, after a third-place championship finish in 2024, he is ready to take the next step in his career.
Robert Wickens:
“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. 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.”
David Askew, DXDT Racing Team Owner:
“It’s always great when you can add a driver of Robert’s 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. 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.”
Mark Stielow, Director, GM Motorsports Competition Programs:
“We are proud to be part of this effort alongside DXDT Racing, Pratt Miller, Bosch and of course Robert Wickens. 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. 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.”
Taking to X, Wickens said:
This is what I’ve been pushing for since day 1 of my recovery. I’m excited to announce that I am entering the @IMSA Weather Tech Series in the GTD class with @DXDTRacing. None of this would have been possible without the support of the team, Bosch, GM, and so many more.