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Robert Wickens is stepping up the IMSA ladder to join the IMSA SportsCar Championship with DXDT Racing in 2025. The 35-year-old Canadian will join the team for the five sprint rounds behind the wheel of the No. 36 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, beginning with the Grand Prix of Long Beach in April. His co-driver will be announced at a later date.
This is part of a continued progression for Wickens, who drives using hand controls following an accident during his rookie season in an IndyCar Series race at Pocono Raceway in 2018, where he sustained a spinal cord injury and a thoracic spinal fracture that left him a paraplegic. The Corvette he will pilot this upcoming season is specifically equipped with a new electronic hand-brake control system from Bosch.
“This is the opportunity I have been seeking for quite a while now, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support from (DXDT Racing owner) David Askew at DXDT, Bosch and General Motors,” said Wickens.
“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.”
#33: Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb Agajanian, Hyundai Elantra N TCR, TCR: Robert Wickens, Harry Gottsacker
Photo by: Michael L. Levitt
Three years after his accident, Wickens found his way back 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 Challenge series. He won at Watkins Glen and Mosport 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 TCR championship, a first in sports cars for Wickens. He backed that up with a runner-up finish for the 2024 title.
“It’s always great when you can add a driver of Robert’s caliber to the team,” Askew said. “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, added, “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.”
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