Wickens Returns to the Track at Long Beach: A Race to Remember
Long Beach, CA – Robert Wickens made a triumphant return to competitive racing at the IMSA Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, marking his first appearance since a spinal cord injury in 2018. Wickens, behind the wheel of the specially-adapted #36 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, demonstrated his skill by leading the first 25 laps from pole position before concluding the race in sixth place.
After an eight-month hiatus from racing, Wickens showcased remarkable pace, commenting, “To be honest, that was a fairy-tale stint. The Corvette Z06 GT3.R was just so nice to drive around this track. Every lap is a dream.” His team, DXDT Racing, was eager to capitalize on the momentum he built during his opening stint following the loss of power by Danny Formal in the #45 Wayne Taylor Racing Lamborghini Huracán and a mechanical penalty for the #57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG.
Wickens successfully extended his lead to four seconds before pitting, allowing teammate Mason Filippi to take over. Filippi initially held the lead but lost ground during a critical phase after a full-course yellow restart, eventually finishing sixth. Filippi remarked, “We got stuck driving behind some of the lap traffic… then we got pushed into the wall pretty hard by another car. When that happened we lost kind of all of the momentum.”
Despite challenges throughout the race, Wickens’ return is a significant milestone in his career and for the DXDT team, which is aiming for a podium finish at the upcoming race in WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, just two weeks away. Wickens closed 2025 without a podium finish, an anomaly for the accomplished driver, but remains optimistic about the future.
Race Results Highlights:
- Pole Position: Robert Wickens (#36 DXDT Racing Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R)
- Top Finishers:
- 1st: Aaron Telitz (#12 Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus)
- 2nd: Robby Foley (#96 Turner Motorsport BMW)
- 3rd: Albert Costa (#10 Conquest Racing Ferrari)
As the IMSA season progresses, Wickens and DXDT Racing are determined to leverage their recent performance and secure their place on the podium.
