Robert Wickens' Unexpected Return to IMSA Endurance Racing at Road America
Robert Wickens is set to make an unexpected return to endurance racing this weekend at Road America, joining DXDT Racing's Corvette team for his first IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD class endurance appearance in nine years. His inclusion came at the last minute, replacing Salih Yoluc in the No. 36 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R. Wickens will be sharing driving duties with Mason Filippi and Charlie Eastwood on the challenging 4.048-mile, 14-turn natural terrain circuit. Despite the rapid call-up and minimal preparation time, Wickens expressed confidence in his ability to tackle the event, highlighting his extensive experience in various endurance formats.
This opportunity is particularly significant for Wickens, whose plans for a full-season WeatherTech campaign, including endurance races, were initially hampered by financial constraints and an earlier incident where a team transporter fire forced DXDT to withdraw from a sprint race. His participation underscores a renewed push toward his long-term career goals in motorsports. With a strong driver lineup and a competitive car, Wickens is optimistic about their prospects for success in the upcoming race, aiming for a podium finish.
Last-Minute Opportunity: Wickens' Return to Endurance
Robert Wickens is embracing a sudden and exciting opportunity to compete in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD class endurance race at Road America this weekend. The Canadian driver received a late call on Wednesday afternoon to join the DXDT Racing team, stepping in for Salih Yoluc. He will pilot the No. 36 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R alongside sprint co-driver Mason Filippi and Charlie Eastwood. This marks a significant milestone for Wickens, as it is his first IMSA endurance start since the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona, where he competed in LMP2. Despite the short notice, Wickens remains focused and determined, ready to contribute to the team's performance on the challenging 4.048-mile, 14-turn natural terrain road course.
The unexpected nature of this opportunity means Wickens has had limited time for specific race preparation, such as reviewing extensive video footage or telemetry. However, he views this as a positive challenge, stating, "I don't know the exact details of why Salih couldn't make it... but for me, it was a great opportunity." He added, "I found out Wednesday afternoon that it was official that I was doing it. So, I wasn't able to watch the race tapes, onboards to kind of get into the swing of it as much. But we're here, the car's fast, the team's doing a great job. We're looking forward to it." This last-minute call-up is a testament to his adaptability and the team's trust in his capabilities, especially given the complexities of endurance racing and the high-stakes environment of the IMSA championship.
Experience and Ambition: Aiming for Victory
Despite the lack of recent IMSA endurance starts, Robert Wickens brings a wealth of experience and a strong competitive spirit to the Road America event. His extensive background includes participating in the grueling 24 Hours of Nürburgring and completing four six-hour NLS races in a TCR car during the previous season. Furthermore, he demonstrated his ability to handle extended stints during a sprint race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP) last year, where he spent nearly two hours behind the wheel. In this year's GTD action, Wickens has already achieved a best result of sixth place, building on a fourth-place finish at CTMP last season. These experiences provide a solid foundation for him to confidently tackle the endurance format, despite its perceived challenges.
Wickens dismisses the notion that endurance racing is an insurmountable hurdle, emphasizing that the strategic differences are more pronounced than the physical demands compared to sprint races. "Everyone puts so much attention on the endurance aspect of it... but even though it's a sprint, the stints are not that different," Wickens explained. "A two-hour and 40-minute race isn't even half of what a six-hour race is. Strategies are a little more open—more opportunity to gain, more opportunity to lose." With Mason Filippi qualifying the #36 Corvette ninth in class and Corvette factory driver Charlie Eastwood completing the lineup, Wickens is confident in his team's potential. He believes that with their combined talent and the team's dedication, they possess all the necessary elements to contend for a top spot, echoing his belief that "the goal is always the same: this team wants to win."