But not just any plain ‘Ol Corvette…
Was pleasantly surprised to read the news that
thee Young Wicky’, ergo Robert Wickens has moved up to IMSA GTD competition
next year. As Wickens joins DXDT Racing aboard one of its Corvette Z06 GT3
racecars.
And for those who don’t know, Robert Wickens
was paralyzed from the waist down following a horrendous accident during the
opening portion of the 2018 Pocono IndyCar race.
As Wickens will drive a specially prepared
Corvette Z06 GT3.R adapted with Bosch hand controlled for braking and
acceleration, similar to what He used at Brian Herta Autosport. (BHA) In their
Hyundai Elantra N TCR enroute to the 2023 Michelin Pilot Challenge TCR (Touring
Car) Championship, with co-driver Harry Gottsacker. Where Wickens has raced for
BHA since His return to competition in
2022.
Wickens has already visited Pratt & Miller,
who convert production Z06’s into Corvette racecars. And even checked out a 3D
printed prototype steering wheel.
As Wickens, whose co-driver will be named
later, will contest the five Sprint rounds of next year’s IMSA SportsCar
championship. For which I cannot discern if there’s still a separate Sprint
championship for GT Daytona (GTD) entries, albeit I think there’s still a
Sprint cup trophy…
Seeing Robby’s, as His good friend thee Mayor
‘O Hinchtown calls Him, make His IMSA GT Daytona debut at Long Beach next
April. As Wickens is excited about it being twinned with IndyCar, even if
there’s no runoffs and it’s a virtual concrete canyon racetrack.
Super excited that Wickens is moving up the
Sports Car ranks. Stating that obviously He hopes to use this as a springboard
to an eventual full season IMSA GTD campaign. And with the Bosch system being
utilized for the GTP’s brake-by-wire systems. How cool would it be if Robert
could one day find Himself piloting a top flight IMSA GTP Prototype?
Obviously there will be teething issues due to
the complexity of the adaptive hand control “ring” steering wheel system. Not
to mention that DXDT, a longtime GT World Challenge Americas team will be
contesting its inaugural GTD season next year.
As the team’s owned by David Askew, and was
founded in 2014. Reportedly Askew, who’s a businessman, is also a competitive
Offshore Sailor along with racing car driver.
The team began at Miller Motorsports Park in
Salt Lake City, Utah racing in local National Auto sport Association (NASA)
Club events. Before apparently turning professional in 2017.
The team has raced in the Lamborghini Super
Trofeo series, as well as the Intercontinental Challenge GT Cup. Along with
being a longtime Mercedes-AMG GT3 customer in the GT World challenge series.
On the bright side, past IMSA GTD Champion Brian Sellers has just been brought in as the team’s newly hired Competition Director. With no word on whether or not Sellers will do any moonlighting driving in endurance events? But appears to be leaving the cockpit, since I believe the team’s Michelin Endurance Cup drivers have already been announced…
