Robert Wickens will return to racing, three years after the terrible accident in which he was the protagonist in the IndyCar race in Pocono in which he risked his life.
Since then, the Canadian has worked hard to get back on his feet, relying on clinics specialized in the recovery of the use of the legs (having suffered a spinal cord injury, multiple fractures of various kinds throughout the body) and working every day with great fighting spirit.
Wickens will have the opportunity to step back into the cockpit of a racing car thanks to the Bryan Herta Autosport team and Hyundai Motor North America, who will provide him with a new Elantra N TCR for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, the endurance tourism championship. American.
The 32-year-old Toronto native had already had the opportunity to test a team’s Hyundai Veloster N TCR last year in Mid-Ohio, a car equipped with steering wheel controls that drove disabled driver Michael Johnson.
Robert Wickens with Karli Wickens, Bryan Herta Autosport, Hyundai Veloster N TCR
Photo by: Michael L. Levitt / Motorsport Images
“For many nights I have dreamed of my return and thanks to the support of Bryan Herta and Hyundai this has become a reality,” said Wickens, who will be crewed with Mark Wilkins on the Elantra N # 33 and will debut next week at Daytona. , in the weekend that sees the series support the 24h.
“I have a great desire to race, much more than I had before the accident, and I can’t wait to fight for the victory again! I am impatient to get to work with the Bryan Herta Autosport guys and take the wheel in hand of the Hyundai Elantra N TCR “.
Bryan Herta added: “Today is a day to remember for all of Robert’s team and fans. We closely followed the period of his rehabilitation, to which he dedicated himself with enormous determination and pushed by many fans. “
“To announce today that he will return to professional motorsport with one of our cars is incredible, we thank Hyundai for the support and for believing in the same path to get Robert back to racing.”
Specifically, Wickens’ Hyundai features a custom manual control system designed by team engineers David Brown and Jonathan Gormley.
This consists of a metal ring fixed behind the steering wheel and connected to the brake by a series of rods, which must be pulled to activate the pedal. Then there are the so-called ‘paddles’ as gearshift selectors, to which the accelerator one has been added, also attached behind the steering wheel.
When Wilkins gets on board instead of Wickens, all he has to do is press a button to deactivate the aforementioned accelerator and switch to the traditional pedals.
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