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Hamilton Spectator

Robert Wickens to drive Corvette at Canadian IMSA stop

The journey of Robert Wickens returning to auto racing has been a success story of the highest order. Not only has the 36-year-old from Guelph returned to his passion, his drive and determination have been an inspiration no matter what the sport. During a 2018 IndyCar race at Pocono, Wickens crashed and suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed. With intense therapy, willpower and the help of modern technology, he was able to return to the race track in 2022, driving in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge with a Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai. He had several podium finishes, including two victories, and earned the 2023 series title. A major factor in his success has been the implementation of hand controls developed by Bosch, which has continuously enhanced a system originally designed for car braking. 'I'm still learning the controls and continuing to get better,' said Wickens, who will drive a Corvette Z06 GT3.R for DXDT Racing during the upcoming IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park July 11 to 13 — the only Canadian stop on the IMSA tour. He has already raced the car in the Long Beach and Laguna Seca events this year and said he enjoys the Corvette with its power, but didn't dismiss the Hyundai. 'You can't underestimate the Hyundai,' he explained. 'It developed about 400 horsepower.' But the Corvette, a GT racing car developed by General Motors and Pratt Miller Engineering, competes around the globe, and its V8 engine produces about 600 horsepower for IMSA racing. The Hyundai was a front-drive car and the Corvette rear-drive. Wickens noted there are different driving styles with each, but the Corvette is quicker in all aspects of racing. Between racing at the upcoming CTMP event, Wickens and his team will present fan experience programs, and those interested can sign up at . When not behind the wheel, Wickens has returned to playing golf, an activity he enjoys with his wife Karli and a modified golf cart. He also said much of his off-track time is consumed with raising their three-year-old son, Wesley. While he has raced at many tracks, a return to CTMP is special to Wickens. 'There's a lot of nostalgia for me,' he said. 'I started out there on the kart track and raced in many series there. I'm really looking forward to returning.' Billed as Canada's biggest sports car race, the Chevrolet Grand Prix will feature races in the Michelin Pilot Challenge, the VP Racing Sportscar Challenge and the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin, along with the headlining IMSA WeatherTech event with LMP2 prototypes, GTD PRO and GTD classes. There will be a strong contingent of Canadian teams at the race, including Pfaff Motorsports (Lamborghini in GT3), AWA (Corvette Z06 GT3.R) and noted car builder Multimatic. Canadian drivers include Parker Thompson (Lexus RC F GT3), Orey Fidani (Corvette Z06 GT3.R), Roman De Angelis (Aston Martin Vantage GT3) and Misha Goikhberg (Lamborghini Huracán GT3). For more info and tickets, go to . Brantford's Yvonne Potter (second from right) and crew celebrate her Super Pro class win in her dragster during the Nitro Nationals weekend at Toronto Motorsports Park. Weekend winners: Dylan Westbrook and Ryan Turner had good weekends in southern Ontario Sprints competition. Westbrook, from Scotland, won the 25-lapper A Main at Ohsweken Speedway and $5,000 in the second round of the Gold Crown Super Series last Friday, while Dunnville's Turner took the third round of the series at Brighton Speedway Saturday and pocketed $5,000 … Kyle Cummins of Indiana, who drives for Glenn Styres Racing out of Ohsweken, finished third in one of the racing events at the Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway earlier this week. The race is part of the USAC NOS Energy Drink Midget National Championship for USAC Midgets. Known as The Driven2SaveLives BC39, the races are 39 laps each and named in honour of the late four-time USAC Midget champion Bryan Clauson. A field of over 70 Midgets from three countries took to the temporary dirt oval set up at the Brickyard … Yvonne Potter of Brantford drove her dragster to a Super Pro class win during the recent Nitro Nationals at Toronto Motorsports Park. The victory was her first.