Reigning IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge TCR champion Robert Wickens is keen on returning to top level motorsport with an eye on the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship for the 2025 season.
The Canadian paraplegic spoke to selected media ahead of this week’s IMSA round at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP).
On the topic of his goals, he said: “And in terms of ambitions, you know, for me, I feel like I’ve been pretty clear from the outset that I just want to return back to an elite level of motorsport.
“I love my time at Michelin Pilot Challenge, I love racing with Hyundai in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series, but I think my heart’s still driving me towards the WeatherTech series.
“I’d love to find a place there in the future. And then furthermore, you see it time and time again, [in] the IMSA series, there’s a lot of drivers that can bounce between several or a couple different IMSA championships on the same weekend.
“So it wouldn’t necessarily rule me out of the Michelin Pilot Challenge series if I didn’t make my way to WeatherTech.
“But yeah, the dream and the ambition right now is just to get to that elite level of motorsport, whether it be the IMSA WeatherTech series, Formula E, the WEC, IndyCar.
“Obviously each series has its own hurdles that you need to jump through, but I’d be a very happy man if I can make it onto the WeatherTech grid for next year.”
Since his IndyCar accident on 19 August 2018 rendered him in a paraplegic state, Wickens has undergone a process of treatment, recovery and rehabilitation.
He returned to racing in the 2023 Pilot Challenge for Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb Agajanian in their Hyundai Elantra N featuring adapted hand controls.
Along with teammate Harry Gottsacker, the pair claimed the TCR championship later that year without any race victories.
So far, they have secured three podium finishes this season with the most recent at Watkins Glen, taking P2 at the Esses 120.
They are also situated third in the TCR class standings prior to CTMP and are keen on taking their first victory of 2024.
Besides defending the TCR title, Wickens is evidently keen on returning to the WeatherTech championship which hosts the famed 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring races amidst other exciting sprint and endurance sportscar events.
Wickens’ only WeatherTech outing was at the 2017 Daytona 24 Hours in Starworks Motorsport’s open-top Oreca FLM09 with teammates Ben Keating, John Falb, Chris Cumming, and Remo Ruscitti.
Unfortunately, the #8 retired in the 21st hour after Cumming spun into the inside barrier on the exit of the first corner, leaving unfinished business for Wickens at Daytona.
Discussion about this post