Canadian Robert Wickens not only has the heart of a champion, he’s won multiple championships from karting through the junior open-wheel series. In addition to his success on the open-wheel ladder, he also scored multiple wins and poles while competing in the highly competitive DTM championship from 2013-2017. In 2018, he made his mark known to everyone in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES by winning the pole for his very first race at the season-opening St. Pete Grand Prix! Unfortunately, later that year, he would suffer from a catastrophic crash at the Pocono oval, where he broke his back, neck, legs, and had numerous other injuries that left him a paraplegic. He returned to racing with Bryan Herta Autosport in 2022, scoring a podium finish with his co-driver in his first race using hand controls! In 2023 he won the Michelin Pilot Challenge championship in a Hyundai Elantra N. This guy is amazing, and in this interview at the 2025 Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach media luncheon, he talks about his latest ride in the DXDT Corvette ZO6 GT3.R IMSA GTD car with new Bosch hand controls. In the second practice session of the weekend, he set the fastest lap! Listen in as he fills us in on the technology that’s helping him return to top-level racing. Enjoy!
By Larry Mason
Copyright © 2025 Larry Mason
Interview and photos Copyright © by Larry Mason (unless otherwise noted)
Robert Wickens was a champion racer before a horrific crash at Pocono in an Indy car. Since that time, he has won another championship and is just as fast as ever using hand controls!
With a thumbs-up from the emergency crew at the entrance to Turn 10 at Long Beach Robert Wickens gets ready for the start of the 50th Anniversary of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach in the IMSA WeatherTech series.
With the grandstands packed and the Long Beach Arena in the background, Wickens makes his way around Turn 10 in the early stages of the race.
With the throttle and brake on the back side of the steering wheel, Wickens has his hands full mastering the tricky turns of the Long Beach street circuit. It’s not a problem for him as he was quickest among all GT cars in the second practice session!
One of the most challenging turns at Long Beach for Wickens is the Turn 11 hairpin. From a left-hand corner, on-throttle entry, to a right-hand, braking, full-steering-lock right hander, Wickens has to do all that maneuvering with his hands only!
Exiting Turn 11 with the iconic Long Beach skyline in the background, Wickens can now relax a bit as he starts to rocket down the long Shoreline Drive, front-straight.
It was not a “Sunday drive at the park” for Wickens and his teammate Tommy Milner as you can see from the rear bumper damage. After their pit stop, Milner took over driving duties for the second half of the race and was running up into 5th place when contact with another car necessitated another pit stop, ultimately relegating them to 15th at the finish.