Toronto, ON – Following his electrifying runner-up finish at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, where he made history as the first driver to podium with hand controls, Canadian motorsport icon Robert Wickens returns to his homeland to compete in the Chevrolet Grand Prix at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) on July 11–13. Wickens is racing the No. 36 Corvette Z06 GT3.R in the GTD class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
“I couldn’t be more excited about being a part of the headline race, driving a Corvette Z06 GT3.R,” said Wickens. “It’s a big race for myself, as well as my team, DXDT Racing, we feel like a podium is just around the corner, and there is no place I would rather achieve that than at home at CTMP. The Corvette has always been a fan favourite. Ron Fellows put Corvette Racing on the map in Canada with all of his success with Pratt and Miller. Ron has had a huge influence on CTMP and on my career. He’s someone I’ve always looked up to from a very young age, and he’s helped me, other Canadian drivers progress from karts to cars. Now to return, driving a Corvette just like Ron has done for so many years holds a special place for me.”
Nürburgring 24 Recap:
At the grueling 24‑hour endurance classic, Wickens and his “Bryan Herta Autosport -Team America’s” co‑drivers secured an impressive second-place finish in the No. 831 Elantra N TCR — an extraordinary feat given he raced using his hand-operated throttle and advanced Bosch electronic brake system. This marked a milestone as the first time in the event’s long history that a driver finished on the podium using non-traditional driver aids.
Wickens attempted the fete in 2024, while still racing with Bryan Herta Autosport in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Series. His effort was cut short when he suffered a hand control failure during the “NLS” licensing races. Hyundai and Bryan Herta Autosport offered Wickens another opportunity this year, using the new Bosch hand control system. The effort was a massive success, as Wickens drove for over six hours in the legendary 24-hour endurance race and had the honour of taking the checkered flag, proving that both he and his Bosch hand control system are fully capable of competing for victories in endurance racing.
Corvette Z06 GT3.R: GTD Success with DXDT Racing
In the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, Wickens has dazzled in the No. 36 Corvette Z06 GT3.R for DXDT Racing. With the evolution of the Bosch hand control system, GM and Pratt and Miller paired with DXDT Racing to give Wickens an opportunity in the GTD category of the IMSA WeatherTech Championship, North America’s premier SportsCar racing series. Wickens has impressed not just with inspiring perseverance, but also with pace:
- Debut 2025 GTD race at Long Beach: set the second-fastest lap of the race weekend in the GTD category.
- Wickens and his teammate Alec Udell started on the front row at Laguna Seca and looked set for a podium before being hit in pit lane.
This innovative braking technology, jointly developed by Bosch, Pratt Miller, Chevrolet, and DXDT, supports seamless driver swaps between manually controlled and pedal-powered configurations on the same steering system. The IMSA race at CTMP will be Wickens’ third of five races in the Corvette Z06 GT3.R this season.
Back Home: The Ultimate Fan Experience
Canadian fans are invited to get closer than ever through the “Wickens Ultimate Fan Experience” at CTMP. VIP guests receive:
- Three-day event “Super Ticket” with paddock access
- Private meet‑and‑greet with Wickens
- Exclusive behind‑the‑scenes tour of DXDT Racing
- Grid-side photo opportunities with Wickens and the DXDT Racing Corvette Z06 GT3.R
- Entry to Robert’s dedicated cheering section
- A commemorative swag pack
- Plus, a surprise podium experience — if Wickens finishes in the top three
This exclusive three-day package offers fans an intimate experience with one of Canada’s most inspirational sports heroes; the cost is US$120 and is available at www.robertwickens.com.
From IMSA to INDYCAR: Immediately after CTMP, Wickens remains in-country to join the Toronto Indy — where he serves as a technical advisor for Andretti Global. Andretti Global are the defending race winners of the Toronto GP.
Wickens works from Kyle Kirkwood’s timing stand; Kirkwood won two of the three INDYCAR races on street circuits so far this season. Kirkwood, who recently triumphed at Long Beach, credited Wickens’ analytical expertise as pivotal to his performance.
About Robert Wickens
Canadian driver Robert Wickens made a dramatic return to elite motorsport after a life-changing 2018 INDYCAR crash. Since returning to competition with hand controls in 2022, he has won the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge TCR title, earned a historic podium at Nürburgring 24, and competed in the IMSA GTD series using hand controls — with continued innovation in braking systems from Bosch. Wickens has become a trailblazer for the disabled community and continues to work toward innovation in public mobility.
