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| Robert Wickens during preseason testing at Sebring. Photo Credit: Amanda Jeannette, DXDT Racing (2025) |
Robert Wickens Returns To DXDT Racing Corvette For 2026 IMSA GTD Sprints
Robert Wickens will return to DXDT Racing and the No. 36 Chevrolet Corvette
Z06 GT3.R for the five IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTD sprint
rounds in 2026, continuing the groundbreaking adaptive racing program he began
in 2025.
He will share the car with Mason Filippi, his former Michelin Pilot Challenge
teammate and a strong, technically adept driver who is stepping up to a
full-season GTD role with the team. The sprint schedule includes the Acura
Grand Prix of Long Beach (April 17-18), Laguna Seca, Canadian Tire Motorsport
Park, Virginia International Raceway, and Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Wickens expressed excitement about building on the momentum from 2025, where
the #36 Corvette frequently showed top-four GTD pace in practice and
qualifying during his sprints, led laps at Road America, and delivered a
season-best 4th-place finish at his home track (CTMP). He acknowledged the
long layoff since the final 2025 sprint at VIR but highlighted strong
preparation through ongoing communication with team manager Bryan Sellers and
the endurance drivers, plus review of 2025 data, onboards, and limited iRacing
sessions.
Robert Wickens dives into the development of the updated BOSCH hand braking tool he uses to command the Corvette on the track.
Teammate Dynamic and Goals
Wickens described Filippi as a “hard worker,” “A-class teammate,” and “asset
to any team,” praising his feedback after they shared a car at the 2025
Nürburgring 24 Hours. With Filippi bringing fresh pace (strong results in
early 2026 races), the pairing aims to convert consistent speed into podium
finishes in the sprints. Wickens noted that butterflies remain a healthy
motivator, especially on a high-stakes street circuit like Long Beach where
qualifying and track position are critical. He reflected on last year’s debut,
where he improved dramatically from FP1 to FP2 (setting the fastest GTD time)
thanks to input from co-driver Tommy Milner, but felt he underperformed in
qualifying.
Adaptive Technology and Driver Changes
The Bosch electronic hand-control system (brake-by-wire and throttle) remains
central, having proven highly reliable across endurance events like the
Nürburgring 24 Hours (where Wickens finished 2nd in class). Wickens emphasized
ongoing refinement of both braking and throttle response, noting that the
Corvette’s rear-wheel-drive power delivery feels more natural to him than the
front-wheel-drive TCR cars he previously raced, though he continues dialing in
throttle resolution to avoid oversteer or excessive traction control
intervention.
Driver changes with crew member Josh Gibbs have evolved impressively - from
competitive times at the 2025 Long Beach debut to sub-16-second swaps by VIR.
Wickens focuses on consistency, staying lightweight, keeping his legs straight
during entry to avoid neurological responses, and prioritizing smooth,
unrushed routines over speed to avoid errors, especially at Long Beach.
WICKENS - NTT INDYCAR AS DRIVER COACH FOR ANDRETTI GLOBAL
Challenges and Future Outlook
Wickens candidly addressed the realities of customer-team sports car racing:
funding prevented a full-season effort in 2026 (including endurance races like
the Rolex 24 at Daytona). He remains confident the system has no reliability
concerns and that he is “not a liability,” citing strong 2025 showings and the
Nürburgring result. The team often positioned itself for success in 2025 but
encountered bad luck in the closing stages of several sprints; Wickens
believes continued work ethic will eventually create their own luck and open
doors.
He is already looking ahead to 2027 for potential endurance participation,
including Daytona, and expressed broader ambitions for the modular Bosch
system in other GT3 races (e.g., Suzuka, Bathurst, Spa 24), GTP/LMP2
prototypes, or even a return to IndyCar (the system is known to fit). For now,
he is focused on performing as “just a normal racing driver” and converting
the #36’s proven pace into results. A special Wealthspire livery is planned
for the Long Beach weekend, adding to the excitement.
Significance
This 2026 program represents continued progress in Wickens’ remarkable
comeback from his 2018 IndyCar spinal injury. It underscores innovation in
adaptive motorsport technology, the strength of the GM/Pratt Miller Corvette
Z06 GT3.R platform, and DXDT Racing’s growth. With refined preparation, a
proven teammate, and accumulated experience, the pairing enters the season
with realistic optimism for podium contention and stronger overall results in
the highly competitive GTD class.
The season kicks off for Wickens at the Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach
weekend, where track evolution, multi-class traffic, and execution in
practice/qualifying will again be key. Success there and throughout the
sprints could pave the way for expanded opportunities in the years ahead.
... notes from The EDJE
TAGS: #RobertWickens, #DXDTRacing, #CorvetteZ06GT3R, #IMSA2026, #GTDClass, #BoschHandControls, #AdaptiveRacing, #MasonFilippi, #LongBeachGP, #CorvetteRacing, #TheEDJE, #MotorsportsJournal
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