Latest news with #RobertWickens
Car and Driver
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
2026 Hyundai Elantra N TCR Takes Aim at the Honda Civic Type R
Hyundai is bringing out a special-edition Elantra N in Canada to celebrate the company's TCR series wins. The Elantra N TCR Edition features a big wing and upgraded brakes, and it's only available by special order. There's not much stopping the Elantra N TCR Edition from coming to the United States too. In 1983, Hyundai began its first sales in North America with the humble Pony—a 70-hp, four-door hatchback. This was not a new strategy, as Honda had also used Canada as a test market with the S600 in the 1960s, long before the N600 arrived in the United States, and Mazda had done likewise with the rotary-powered R100. While the U.S. and Canada have very similar automotive markets, sometimes the latter sees automakers dipping their toes in the water before diving in on a larger scale, and if Hyundai Canada's latest offering is anything to go by, an enthusiast-focused special could be in the future for south of the border. It's called the Elantra N TCR Edition, and it's basically the 911 GT3 of Hyundais. Starting out with the already excellent Elantra N, Hyundai has added forged wheels and upgraded front brakes via four-piston monoblock calipers. There's also a truly massive swan-neck adjustable rear wing as a calling card. Hyundai Inside, the TCR is swathed with Alcantara touch points, periwinkle blue seatbelts, and a host of other cosmetic upgrades. Though it is available in limited quantities and must be specially ordered, Hyundai Canada will still allow you to pick between a six-speed manual or a dual-clutch automatic transmission, as well as four exterior colors (two fewer than the standard Elantra N). Speaking of which, the TCR Edition doesn't get any more power than the regular Elantra N, so that's 286 horsepower in overboost mode from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder. That's plenty, and Hyundai's N products are all about offering chassis capability that allows drivers to extract every bit of speed that a turbo four can provide. Adding upgraded brakes and a bit more aero should mean that this version of the Elantra is capable of setting faster lap times. Hyundai Last month, Hyundai claimed its fifth straight TCR class victory at the Nurburgring 24-Hour race, finishing first and second on the podium. The effort included Canadian racing driver Robert Wickens, a former DTM and IndyCar driver who survived a life-altering crash at Pocono Raceway in 2018, yet has returned to top-level motorsports despite being paraplegic. The original Hyundai Pony was not a great car, and it actually became the butt of jokes north of the border, much like the Yugo did in America. Despite the shaky start, Hyundai has grown to become a world-class brand in both markets, and the launch of the TCR Edition Elantra in Canada just shows how confident the company is these days. Hyundai Priced about $3500 more than the standard Elantra N, the TCR Edition seems like a bit of a bargain for some genuinely motorsports-infused performance. There's no reason Hyundai's U.S. operations couldn't put a similar program into place, especially as the cars are special order only, and you wouldn't have to convince dealers to stock them. You can bet Hyundai USA will be watching how the TCR Edition sells in hoser-land. Here's hoping the U.S. gets it too. And if not, well, sorry, eh? Brendan McAleer Contributing Editor Brendan McAleer is a freelance writer and photographer based in North Vancouver, B.C., Canada. He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Walter Cronkite or Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki's half-century obsession with the Citroën 2CV. He has taught both of his young daughters how to shift a manual transmission and is grateful for the excuse they provide to be perpetually buying Hot Wheels. Read full bio
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Wickens to drive feature race at home seven years after crash left him paralyzed
Robert Wickens's promising racing career seemed like it was cut tragically short after a 2018 crash left him paralyzed from the chest down. But almost seven years later, Wickens is racing in the headline event of the Chevrolet Grand Prix, competing at the highest levels of his sport in Canada for the first time since that accident. Advertisement The event is at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ont., a course Wickens grew up around and where his dream of becoming a professional race car driver first began to take shape. "It's been a long time since I've raced a home race as the headline class," Wickens said in a video call Thursday. "The Toronto Indy in 2018 would have been the last time, and thankfully, we finished on the podium there." Racing IMSA GTD, the highest class of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, on a track where he used to watch his heroes compete as a boy, is a full-circle moment for Wickens. "I raced a lot of the cart track just next door, and when I wasn't on track, I'd ride my bike over to the car track and watch whatever car was driving around," Wickens said. "Whether it was a IMSA race weekend or a regional kind of Formula Ford race, or a Canadian NASCAR race, anything in between. Advertisement "I feel like I knew every inch of this track, even though I didn't drive it much." Wickens's professional career officially began in 2005 when, at 16, he started racing in Formula BMW USA with Team Apex Racing USA. As a result, he didn't spend much time at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park like many Canadians in motorsport do, instead cutting his teeth in the United States and Europe before graduating to IndyCar in 2017. After getting a full ride with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports at the start of the 2018 season, Wickens was named the Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year that May after leading two laps and finishing ninth during the race. Wickens continued to thrive that summer, including a third-place finish at the Honda Indy Toronto on July 15, 2018, climbing to sixth in the IndyCar rankings. Advertisement Disaster struck just over a month later, on Aug. 19, when he sustained a serious spinal cord injury in a catastrophic crash during the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway that left him partially paralyzed. Using hand controls, Wickens resumed driving after his injury and, this year, began racing a Corvette for DXDT Racing in the Sprint Cup of the IMSA SportsCar Championship. Back competing at the highest levels of North American motorsport, Wickens said "it's amazing" to be part of the Chevrolet Grand Prix. "I love the added attention of a hometown race," he said. "I think any racing driver wants that spotlight moment. You want to be the quarterback in the fourth quarter at the two-minute warning with the game on the line and the ball in your hands." Advertisement Wickens's goal for the Chevrolet Grand Prix is straightforward: just run a mistake-free event. "I think in the IMSA WeatherTech, SportsCar Championship, you can't expect success, you have to work for it," said Wickens, noting that Corvette has won 13 races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park since 2001. "You have to be perfect. "So far, in my few races that I've done in the Corvette, we've shown a lot of potential, but we haven't been perfect, and because of that, we haven't gotten the end result." Because Wickens is racing back on home soil for the first time since his accident, he's offering all kinds of unique fan experiences through his website. That includes a tour of DXDT Racing, a personal tour of his Corvette Z06 GT3.R with his custom-made Bosch electronic hand control system, and a photo op on the track. Advertisement Wickens has also organized a viewing section for anyone who wants to join outside of Turn 2, his favourite place to watch races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park when he was growing up. "It's such a family sport. It's a lot of parents that love the sport, it's generational fandom," said Wickens. "I think it's so important when you see kids around that they just have a great experience because that was me growing up, right? "I remember my first Toronto Indy, or my first time at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park and meeting drivers and getting autographs and seeing the car firsthand and just how welcoming it's always been. Now I feel like it's my turn with the baton to run that back." This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 10, 2025. John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Canada's Wickens to drive feature race at home 7 years after crash left him paralyzed
BOWMANVILLE, Ontario (AP) — Robert Wickens' promising racing career seemed as if it was cut tragically short after a 2018 crash left him paralyzed from the chest down. But almost seven years later, Wickens is racing in the headline event of the Chevrolet Grand Prix, competing at the highest levels of his sport in Canada for the first time since that accident. Advertisement The event is at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, a course Wickens grew up around and where his dream of becoming a professional race car driver first began to take shape. 'It's been a long time since I've raced a home race as the headline class,' Wickens said Thursday. 'The Toronto Indy in 2018 would have been the last time, and thankfully, we finished on the podium there.' Racing IMSA GTD, the highest class of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, on a track where he used to watch his heroes compete as a boy, is a full-circle moment for Wickens. 'I raced a lot of the cart track just next door, and when I wasn't on track, I'd ride my bike over to the car track and watch whatever car was driving around,' Wickens said. 'Whether it was a IMSA race weekend or a regional kind of Formula Ford race, or a Canadian NASCAR race, anything in between. Advertisement 'I feel like I knew every inch of this track, even though I didn't drive it much.' Wickens' professional career officially began in 2005 when, at 16, he started racing in Formula BMW USA with Team Apex Racing USA. As a result, he didn't spend much time at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park like many Canadians in motorsport do, instead cutting his teeth in the United States and Europe before graduating to IndyCar in 2017. After getting a full ride with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports at the start of the 2018 season, Wickens was named the Indianapolis 500 rookie of the year that May after leading two laps and finishing ninth in the race. Wickens continued to thrive that summer, finishing third at the Honda Indy Toronto on July 15, 2018 and climbing to sixth in the IndyCar rankings. Advertisement Disaster struck just over a month later, on Aug. 19, when he sustained a serious spinal cord injury in a catastrophic crash during the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway that left him partially paralyzed. Using hand controls, Wickens resumed driving after his injury and, this year, began racing a Corvette for DXDT Racing in the Sprint Cup of the IMSA SportsCar Championship. Back competing at the highest levels of North American motorsport, Wickens said 'it's amazing' to be part of the Chevrolet Grand Prix. 'I love the added attention of a hometown race,' he said. 'I think any racing driver wants that spotlight moment. You want to be the quarterback in the fourth quarter at the two-minute warning with the game on the line and the ball in your hands.' Advertisement Wickens' goal for the Chevrolet Grand Prix is straightforward: run a mistake-free event. 'I think in the IMSA WeatherTech, SportsCar Championship, you can't expect success, you have to work for it,' said Wickens, noting that Corvette has won 13 races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park since 2001. 'You have to be perfect. 'So far, in my few races that I've done in the Corvette, we've shown a lot of potential, but we haven't been perfect, and because of that, we haven't gotten the end result.' Because Wickens is racing on home soil for the first time since his accident, he's offering all kinds of unique fan experiences through his website. That includes a tour of DXDT Racing, a personal tour of his Corvette Z06 GT3.R with his custom-made Bosch electronic hand control system, and a photo op on the track. Advertisement Wickens has also organized a viewing section for anyone who wants to join outside of Turn 2, his favorite place to watch races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park when he was growing up. 'It's such a family sport. It's a lot of parents that love the sport, it's generational fandom,' Wickens said. 'I think it's so important when you see kids around that they just have a great experience because that was me growing up, right? 'I remember my first Toronto Indy, or my first time at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park and meeting drivers and getting autographs and seeing the car firsthand and just how welcoming it's always been. Now I feel like it's my turn with the baton to run that back.' ___ AP auto racing:
Associated Press
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Associated Press
Canada's Wickens to drive feature race at home 7 years after crash left him paralyzed
BOWMANVILLE, Ontario (AP) — Robert Wickens' promising racing career seemed as if it was cut tragically short after a 2018 crash left him paralyzed from the chest down. But almost seven years later, Wickens is racing in the headline event of the Chevrolet Grand Prix, competing at the highest levels of his sport in Canada for the first time since that accident. The event is at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, a course Wickens grew up around and where his dream of becoming a professional race car driver first began to take shape. 'It's been a long time since I've raced a home race as the headline class,' Wickens said Thursday. 'The Toronto Indy in 2018 would have been the last time, and thankfully, we finished on the podium there.' Racing IMSA GTD, the highest class of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, on a track where he used to watch his heroes compete as a boy, is a full-circle moment for Wickens. 'I raced a lot of the cart track just next door, and when I wasn't on track, I'd ride my bike over to the car track and watch whatever car was driving around,' Wickens said. 'Whether it was a IMSA race weekend or a regional kind of Formula Ford race, or a Canadian NASCAR race, anything in between. 'I feel like I knew every inch of this track, even though I didn't drive it much.' Wickens' professional career officially began in 2005 when, at 16, he started racing in Formula BMW USA with Team Apex Racing USA. As a result, he didn't spend much time at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park like many Canadians in motorsport do, instead cutting his teeth in the United States and Europe before graduating to IndyCar in 2017. After getting a full ride with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports at the start of the 2018 season, Wickens was named the Indianapolis 500 rookie of the year that May after leading two laps and finishing ninth in the race. Wickens continued to thrive that summer, finishing third at the Honda Indy Toronto on July 15, 2018 and climbing to sixth in the IndyCar rankings. Disaster struck just over a month later, on Aug. 19, when he sustained a serious spinal cord injury in a catastrophic crash during the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway that left him partially paralyzed. Using hand controls, Wickens resumed driving after his injury and, this year, began racing a Corvette for DXDT Racing in the Sprint Cup of the IMSA SportsCar Championship. Back competing at the highest levels of North American motorsport, Wickens said 'it's amazing' to be part of the Chevrolet Grand Prix. 'I love the added attention of a hometown race,' he said. 'I think any racing driver wants that spotlight moment. You want to be the quarterback in the fourth quarter at the two-minute warning with the game on the line and the ball in your hands.' Wickens' goal for the Chevrolet Grand Prix is straightforward: run a mistake-free event. 'I think in the IMSA WeatherTech, SportsCar Championship, you can't expect success, you have to work for it,' said Wickens, noting that Corvette has won 13 races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park since 2001. 'You have to be perfect. 'So far, in my few races that I've done in the Corvette, we've shown a lot of potential, but we haven't been perfect, and because of that, we haven't gotten the end result.' Because Wickens is racing on home soil for the first time since his accident, he's offering all kinds of unique fan experiences through his website. That includes a tour of DXDT Racing, a personal tour of his Corvette Z06 GT3.R with his custom-made Bosch electronic hand control system, and a photo op on the track. Wickens has also organized a viewing section for anyone who wants to join outside of Turn 2, his favorite place to watch races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park when he was growing up. 'It's such a family sport. It's a lot of parents that love the sport, it's generational fandom,' Wickens said. 'I think it's so important when you see kids around that they just have a great experience because that was me growing up, right? 'I remember my first Toronto Indy, or my first time at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park and meeting drivers and getting autographs and seeing the car firsthand and just how welcoming it's always been. Now I feel like it's my turn with the baton to run that back.' ___ AP auto racing:
CTV News
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Wickens to drive feature race at home seven years after crash left him paralyzed
Driver Change assist Josh Gibbs pulls Robert Wickens, who was paralyzed from the chest down after a 2018 IndyCar crash, from the car as Tommy Milner gets in the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3R as they practice driving changes, Friday, April 11, 2025, in Long Beach Calif., for Saturday's IMSA auto race. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)
