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# Wickens returns to racing in adapted Hyundai
- URL: https://www.the-race.com/indycar/wickens-returns-to-racing-in-adapted-hyundai/
- Published: 2022-01-14T19:44:04.000Z
- Updated: 2023-09-16T15:16:58.000Z
- Description: Robert Wickens will race for the first time since his 2018 Pocono IndyCar crash by contesting IMSA’s Michelin Pilot Challenge series in a specially adapted Hyundai
- Author: Jack Benyon
- Tags: IndyCar, Touring Car, #image-center-right

Robert Wickens will race for the first time since his 2018 Pocono IndyCar crash by contesting IMSA’s Michelin Pilot Challenge series in a specially adapted Hyundai.

DTM race winner Wickens made the switch to IndyCar for 2018 season with Schmidt Peterson, and took four podiums and a pole in a season which led to rookie of the year honours.

![0x060a2b340101010201010f12135249589aca56040493058028ec000d3a8aee96](https://storage.googleapis.com/the-race-com.appspot.com/1/2022/01/0x060a2b340101010201010f12135249589aca56040493058028ec000D3A8AEE96.jpeg)

However, a huge crash at Pocono left the Canadian driver paralysed, and he currently walks with the help of an assistance frame.

Last May, [Wickens drove Bryan Herta Autosport’s Hyundai TCR car](https://www.the-race.com/indycar/wickens-returns-to-cockpit-with-test-in-hertas-hyundai/) – which has adapted hand controls regularly used in IMSA by driver Michael Johnson – at Mid-Ohio and spoke of his desire to secure the funding to return to racing.

Now Wickens has got that chance with a full-season BHA programme in the touring car class of IMSA’s Michelin-branded support series.

> It’s been a long, winding, and difficult road to this point and the journey is not over, but thankful we’ll be able to move down the road with a bit more speed! 
> 
> I’ll be joining [@BHA](https://twitter.com/BHA?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=the-race.com) for the 2022 [@IMSA](https://twitter.com/IMSA?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=the-race.com) season and piloting one of their [@hyundai](https://twitter.com/Hyundai?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=the-race.com) Elantras. 
> 
> Now, let’s go win. [pic.twitter.com/hoPyoorJTO](https://t.co/hoPyoorJTO?ref=the-race.com)
> 
> — Robert Wickens (@robertwickens) [January 14, 2022](https://twitter.com/robertwickens/status/1482066477335392257?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=the-race.com)

Bryan Herta Autosport took Taylor Hagler and Michael Lewis to the championship title last year and is expected to run six cars in the class in 2022.

It has been a long journey for Wickens since his crash in 2018\. Despite the pain he has gone through as part of his rehabilitation – which has been well documented via videos on his social media – Wickens said last year that “the mental health aspect of a recovery like this is extremely daunting”.

The 32-year-old added: “We’re creeping up on three years now since the accident and I feel like I’m not utilising those prime years of my career. I would love nothing more than to get back at an elite level.”

![Robertwickenswithhiscustomacuransx Largeimagewithoutwatermark M16464](https://storage.googleapis.com/the-race-com.appspot.com/1/2022/01/Robert20Wickens20with20his20custom20Acura20NSX_LargeImageWithoutWatermark_m16464.jpg)

He drove a parade lap in an adapted road car at the 2019 Toronto IndyCar race, but last year’s outing in the Hyundai TCR car was his first in a competition vehicle since his crash.

The Hyundai works with the throttle applied through pushing a ring on the front of the steering wheel, and the brake is applied by pulling a ring on the back of the steering wheel. Last year Wickens called it “a great system”.