Wickens Eyes Comeback Momentum in IMSA Return

Long Beach marks fresh start after funding setback halted full-season plans

Apr. 13, 2026 at 9:52pm

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An abstract, energetic painting featuring a race car driver navigating a tight street circuit, with bold, neon-colored brushstrokes conveying the intense motion and emotion of the moment.Wickens' determined return to IMSA racing after a funding setback promises an explosive display of his driving skills and perseverance.Long Beach Today

After a celebratory season in 2025, Robert Wickens returns to this year's Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach for the first of five GTD races in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship. Wickens, a paraplegic driver, made his WeatherTech debut on the Long Beach streets in 2025 and came close to podiums driving a Corvette equipped with hand controls. However, he failed to land enough money to drive DXDT Racing's Corvette in the Michelin Endurance Cup events this year as well as the sprints. Now, Wickens is hoping to jump-start his career with winning ways in IMSA's premier series, with the help of improved hand controls and quicker pit stops.

Why it matters

Wickens' return to IMSA racing is a remarkable comeback story after the devastating IndyCar crash that left him paralyzed in 2018. His perseverance and determination to continue racing despite his disability have inspired many, and his success could pave the way for more disabled drivers to compete at the highest levels of motorsports.

The details

Wickens will be teaming up with Mason Filippi, one of his co-drivers in Germany, for the 100-minute race at Long Beach. The duo will be up against a stout field of 17 cars in the GTD class, which requires at least one silver or bronze-rated driver. Wickens and Filippi are both rated as silver. Bosch, the company that devised Wickens' hand controls, has improved the braking system to make it more sensitive to the precise amount of pressure he's applying. The team has also worked on improving the driver exchange during the mandatory single pit stop, with the goal of achieving a sub-16-second change.

  • Last year, Wickens made his WeatherTech debut on the Long Beach streets in DXDT Racing's Z06 GT3.R.
  • In September 2025, Wickens and his wife Karli welcomed twins, and now have three children.
  • Wickens co-drove with Corvette Racing veteran Tommy Milner at Long Beach in 2025, but suffered contact in a long-shot bid for the podium.

The players

Robert Wickens

A paraplegic driver who is making a comeback in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship, with a focus on the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Mason Filippi

DXDT's fulltime driver, who is teaming up with Wickens for the Long Beach race. Filippi is the founder of OpenFender, a fund-raising platform for racers.

Josh Gibbs

A crewman who is responsible for lifting Wickens in and out of the car during the mandatory pit stop.

Bryan Sellers

The team manager of DXDT Racing, who has been in constant dialogue with Wickens despite his absence from the first two races of the season.

Bosch

The company that devised Wickens' hand controls and has improved the braking system to make it more sensitive to his precise input.

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What they’re saying

“When you are with a customer team in sports car racing, it tends to come with a price tag to it. It's no discredit to any of the customer teams. It's just kind of the circle of life of sports car racing, and I wasn't able to put together the funds required to do a full season.”

— Robert Wickens

“But really just excited to continue with DXDT Racing and Corvette and most importantly, with Bosch and my electronic braking system and hand controls that help make the whole thing possible.”

— Robert Wickens

“Each corner, each track brings its own challenges, and that's kind of what we've constantly been working on and tuning. It's been a really fun journey and to have people like Bosch alongside me and the amazing men and women that support my program. I'm honored to represent them. It's exciting to kind of see it all grow and hopefully in the future we can create a product that the next generation of disabled drivers can use.”

— Robert Wickens

“Mason and I already have great chemistry. We talk every day. We were scheming and plotting throughout the whole winter on how we could be teammates for the full season together.”

— Robert Wickens

“For sure the butterflies are still there. I haven't been away from a racetrack since August. My work in IndyCar with Andretti Global as a driver coach there helps me feel like I'm still at a racetrack every weekend but doing a slightly different role. It's going to be exciting to get the helmet on again, suit up and put my theories to the test.”

— Robert Wickens

What’s next

Wickens and Filippi will compete in the 100-minute race at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, the first of five GTD races in the IMSA WeatherTech Championship for Wickens this season.

The takeaway

Wickens' return to IMSA racing is a remarkable comeback story, showcasing his perseverance and determination to continue competing at the highest levels of motorsports despite the challenges posed by his disability. His success could inspire more disabled drivers to pursue their racing dreams and pave the way for greater inclusivity in the sport.