Robert Wickens final weekend used hand controls in an IMSA sports activities automobile race for his first victory since a 2018 spinal wire damage quickly ended his racing profession.
In England, former IndyCar driver Sam Schmidt accomplished the hill climb at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in a particular McLaren 720S Spider. The automobile was modified by Arrow Electronics, main sponsor of the Arrow McLaren SP IndyCar workforce, in order that Schmidt, a quadriplegic since a 2000 crash, may use a straw-like “sip and puff” system to speed up and brake.
Also at Goodwood, motorbike racer Wayne Rainey rode the identical bike he used whereas successful his remaining championship in 1992. Rainey was paralyzed from the chest down in a 1993 crash, and the modifications to his motorbike embody pseudo coaching wheels that permit him to trip utilizing solely his fingers.
“It was a great weekend for disability awareness,” Wickens stated.
Schmidt and Rainey have been a part of earlier tasks modifying autos they’ll pilot. Wickens’ scenario is totally totally different in that he has returned to competitors this 12 months after considering his profession was over following his airborne IndyCar crash at Pocono almost 4 years in the past.
He drives a Hyundai Elantra N-TCR for Bryan Herta Autosport in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge that has been fitted with hand controls. He shares the automobile with co-driver Mark Wilkins, a fellow Canadian who closed out Saturday’s victory at Watkins Glen.
The duo debuted in January with a podium end at the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
“It’s like riding a bike, but it’s a very different bike, I guess is the best way to describe it,” Wickens stated of racing with hand controls. “Racing has been my life since I was 7 years old. It’s something I worked very hard to get to the level I was at when I was racing in IndyCar in 2018.
“And after the accident, I just knew I had to work harder to try get back to that. I didn’t know what it would look like for me. I didn’t know if I could return straight into IndyCar or if I would have to start off in go-karts, like you do as a kid. The whole recovery just was a bit of an unknown.”
Because he must be bodily carried out of the automobile throughout driver adjustments, he has not been behind the wheel but to cross the end line and shut out a race. Herta instructed The Associated Press that would change, as early as Saturday when Wickens races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
Herta stated it’s sooner for Wickens to begin a race as a result of eradicating him from the automobile is extra environment friendly than carrying him over the pit wall and getting him into the seat through the driver change.
“Robbie will close races this year, he can do it,” Herta stated. “He might even do it this weekend.”
Wickens is solely thrilled to be racing once more and, at 33, having fun with one of many best instances of his life. Herta and Hyundai have him racing once more, and Wickens and his spouse, Karli, expect their first baby in the subsequent two weeks.
He is racing in Canada for the primary time since 2018, when he completed third on the downtown streets of Toronto. He suffered his spinal wire damage two races later.
“It just feels great. I’ve always been my happiest when I’m behind the wheel of a race car,” he stated. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a stressful race with a lot of PR and a lot of press around it. The second you put your helmet on and close that door, it’s just peace for me and I can finally just get into the zone and get into the race and it’s been my happy place for most of my life.
“Life’s great, it almost feels like you’re living in a dream sometimes.”
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More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Wickens aims for another victory racing at home in Canada & More Latest News Update
Wickens aims for another victory racing at home in Canada & More Live News
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Wickens aims for another victory racing at home in Canada & More News Today
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