Robert Wickens Accelerates His Comeback in IMSA SportsCar Championship
Date: [Insert Date]
Location: Long Beach, CA
Robert Wickens, whose career was dramatically interrupted by life-altering injuries sustained in an IndyCar crash at Pocono in 2018, is steadily advancing through his motorsport comeback. This season, he joins the IMSA SportsCar Championship, driving a Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R outfitted with innovative hand-controls developed with Bosch Motorsport.
Wickens’ determination to return to racing has been unwavering. Reflecting on his journey, he stated, “I don’t think I ever didn’t think about getting back into a race car: for me it was never really an option not to.” His conviction was echoed by long-time friend and fellow racer, James Hinchcliffe, who affirmed Wickens’ resolve to resume his career despite the challenges he faced.
After nearly three years away from competitive racing, Wickens made his return by competing in a Hyundai Veloster TCR in 2021. A series of successful outings followed, culminating in a TCR title in 2022 as part of Bryan Herta Autosport, alongside Harry Gottsacker.
This year, Wickens steps up to the premier IMSA series, racing in five sprint rounds, beginning with the Long Beach event in April, alongside co-driver Tommy Milner. His story is further enriched by Bosch’s commitment to developing a new hand-control system, which integrates electronic braking technology, allowing Wickens to control acceleration, shifting, and braking from his left and right hands.
Jeff Blair, a Bosch motorsport software technical expert, elaborated on this advancement, explaining, “It turns electronic signals at the steering wheel into brake pressure at the caliper.” Wickens described this development as a breakthrough that has significantly improved his racing experience, stating, “I had the braking that I wanted to have when I embarked on this journey.”
The enthusiasm and collaborative spirit within Bosch Motorsport was evident, as noted by senior systems engineer Jordan Krell. “It was really cool to see all 200 people within Bosch Motorsport around the world really excited about the project,” he remarked.
As Wickens embraces this new chapter, he reflects on the landscape of his racing future. “Looking at where we are right now and what Bosch is able to provide for me, I feel like it is going to create almost endless opportunity.”
As he continues to pursue his passion for racing, Wickens remains a compelling figure in motorsports, inspiring many with his relentless pursuit of excellence and resilience.
