Paralyzed Canadian race driver Robert Wickens wins championship at Road Atlanta
Canada’s Robert Wickens, paralyzed from the waist down in an IndyCar crash five years ago, has won a racing championship in the IMSA Touring Car Class finale of the Michelin Pilot Challenge.
All Wickens needed was an eighth-place finish to earn the title, and he and co-driver Harry Gottsacker were fourth in the Fox Factory 120 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta on Friday. It was the fifth straight class championship for Byran Herta Autosports.
Wickens, hurt in a crash at Pocono in 2018, uses a hand control system for a paralyzed driver.
Job done. 2023 Champions! It’s hard to put what this means into words, so maybe we’ll save that for a post tomorrow after we’ve had time to celebrate. 😂 Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Bryan, Sean, <a href=”https://twitter.com/HarryGottsacker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@HarryGottsacker</a>, everyone at <a href=”https://twitter.com/BHA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@bha</a> and <a href=”https://twitter.com/Hyundai?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@Hyundai</a> for this opportunity. <a href=”https://t.co/VNTuFB1Lsn”>pic.twitter.com/VNTuFB1Lsn</a>
—@robertwickens
The Guelph, Ont., native said he thought he showed what he could do when he began driving for the team a year ago.
“This year, I felt like I was just a more ironed-out professional and I think the results speak for that,” Wickens said.
Sean Jones, chief operating officer of Bryan Herta Autosports, said the team couldn’t be more pleased with this season and what Wickens’ team accomplished.
“We’ve won a few but this one’s a bit special with Harry and Robert,” Jones said. “Everyone knows Robert’s story.”
