Robert Wickens embraces last-minute call-up for IMSA Endurance debut at Highway America

Robert Wickens is taking a whirlwind flip of occasions in stride. Armed with quick discover and excessive confidence, the Canadian driver is moving into the highlight this weekend to make his IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD class endurance debut at Highway America.

Wickens acquired the decision on Wednesday afternoon to drive DXDT Racing’s No. 36 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R rather than Salih Yoluc. He’ll share the automotive with fellow dash co-driver Mason Filippi, together with Charlie Eastwood on the grueling 4.048-mile, 14-turn pure terrain street course.

Minimal Prep, Most Willpower

#36 DXDT Racing Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Mason Filippi, Robert Wickens at CTMP this season.

Photograph by: Michael Tan

A late call-up typically means scrambling for video footage and telemetry, however Wickens is protecting his focus fully ahead.

“I do not know the precise particulars of why Salih could not make it… however for me, it was an ideal alternative,” Wickens informed Motorsport.com. “I came upon Wednesday afternoon that it was official that I used to be doing it. So, I wasn’t in a position to watch the race tapes, onboards to type of get into the swing of it as a lot. However we’re right here, the automotive’s quick, the crew’s doing an ideal job. We’re trying ahead to it.”

This weekend marks Wickens’ first IMSA endurance begin because the 2017 Rolex 24 at Daytona, the place he competed in LMP2.

Whereas Wickens had hoped to safe a full-season WeatherTech marketing campaign together with endurance races this 12 months, funding constraints initially saved these plans at bay. Moreover, his dash marketing campaign was interrupted when DXDT suffered a transporter fireplace en path to WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca and was pressured to withdraw. The crew returned for the Six Hours of The Glen in late June, with Wickens returning to his dash position final month at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP).

Nevertheless, this sudden opening presents a serious stepping stone towards his long-term targets.

Prepared for the Endurance Problem
#36 DXDT Racing Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Mason Filippi, Robert Wickens, Charlie Eastwood

#36 DXDT Racing Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Mason Filippi, Robert Wickens, Charlie Eastwood

Photograph by: Michael L. Levitt / Lumen through Getty Photos

Regardless of the truncated preparation, Wickens refuses to view the endurance format as an insurmountable impediment.

Wickens brings strong credentials to the cockpit regardless of the last-minute nature of the drive. Throughout a dash race at CTMP final 12 months, he spent 1 hour and 58 minutes behind the wheel, demonstrating his capabilities throughout prolonged stints. Moreover, his long-distance pedigree consists of tackling the grueling 24 Hours of Nürburgring and finishing 4 six-hour NLS races in a TCR automotive final season. In GTD motion this 12 months, he holds a finest results of sixth in school throughout two earlier outings, constructing on a high-water mark of fourth at CTMP final season.

“Everybody places a lot consideration on the endurance side of it… however regardless that it is a dash, the stints will not be that completely different,” Wickens defined. “A two-hour and 40-minute race is not even half of what a six-hour race is. Methods are just a little extra open—extra alternative to achieve, extra alternative to lose.

“I am not overseas to endurance racing… Clearly, placing it into real-life observe in a GT3 automotive at a excessive degree just like the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship goes to be attention-grabbing, however I am trying ahead to the problem.”

Chasing the High Step
#36 DXDT Racing Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Mason Filippi, Robert Wickens at CTMP.

#36 DXDT Racing Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Mason Filippi, Robert Wickens at CTMP.

Photograph by: Brandon Badraoui / Lumen through Getty Photos

Filippi set the muse for Sunday’s race by qualifying the #36 Corvette ninth in school on Saturday. With Corvette manufacturing facility Charlie Eastwood finishing the lineup, Wickens believes the crew has all of the elements to combat on the entrance.

“The aim is all the time the identical: this crew desires to win,” mentioned Wickens. “We have been so shut so many instances. Mason and I’ve confirmed in dash races that we’re very aggressive… Charlie is a professional by means of and thru, so I really feel like within the GTD class, our driver lineup’s very robust. We have now each alternative to have success this weekend.”

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Photographs from Highway America – Saturday

#12 Vasser Sullivan Racing Lexus RC F GT3: Aaron Telitz, Benjamin Pedersen, Frankie Montecalvo