Robert Wickens is stepping up the IMSA ladder to affix the IMSA SportsCar Championship with DXDT Racing in 2025. The 35-year-old Canadian will be a part of the workforce for the 5 dash rounds behind the wheel of the No. 36 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, starting with the Grand Prix of Lengthy Seaside in April. His co-driver shall be introduced at a later date.
That is a part of a continued development for Wickens, who drives utilizing hand controls following an accident throughout his rookie season in an IndyCar Sequence race at Pocono Raceway in 2018, the place he sustained a spinal wire damage and a thoracic spinal fracture that left him a paraplegic. The Corvette he’ll pilot this upcoming season is particularly geared up with a brand new digital hand-brake management system from Bosch.
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“That is the chance I’ve been in search of for fairly some time now, and it wouldn’t be attainable with out the help from (DXDT Racing proprietor) David Askew at DXDT, Bosch and Common Motors,” mentioned Wickens.
“My aim since returning to racing was to race within the IMSA Weathertech Sequence, so to tick that field with a restricted schedule in 2025 is a large step in attaining my targets. It was by no means going to be a straightforward process, however when nice minds put their heads collectively something is feasible.”
#33: Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb Agajanian, Hyundai Elantra N TCR, TCR: Robert Wickens, Harry Gottsacker
Photograph by: Michael L. Levitt
Three years after his accident, Wickens discovered his method again into the cockpit and driving a Hyundai Elantra N TCR – fitted with a Bosch hand-control system – with Bryan Herta Autosport in IMSA’s Pilot Problem collection. He gained at Watkins Glen and Mosport in 2022, which marked his return to victory lane for the primary time since his accident. The next season, he and co-driver Harry Gottsacker earned seven podiums en path to the TCR championship, a primary in sports activities vehicles for Wickens. He backed that up with a runner-up end for the 2024 title.
“It’s all the time nice when you may add a driver of Robert’s caliber to the workforce,” Askew mentioned. “He’s a high driver and has proven by means of drive and resilience that nothing is out of attain, evidenced by his race wins and championship titles in TCR. It’s actually going to be a brand new problem for all of us, however it’s one I’m so excited to tackle. I do know with all of the work by us, Bosch, GM, and Pratt Miller this offseason, we’re in a superb place to hit the bottom operating in Lengthy Seaside.
Mark Stielow, Director, GM Motorsports Competitors Applications, added, “We’re proud to be a part of this effort alongside DXDT Racing, Pratt Miller, Bosch and naturally Robert Wickens. For a few years, Corvette Racing and Bosch have labored collectively to drive innovation in motorsports, most notably by means of the Collision Avoidance System that’s now widespread in sports activities automotive paddocks all over the world. It means an amazing quantity for Robert and Bosch to decide on the Corvette Z06 GT3.R and DXDT Racing as they obtain their aim of constructing racing extra inclusive to all opponents all over the world, irrespective of the collection or classification.”
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Author : Motorsports
Publish date : 2024-11-25 21:17:02
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