IMSA Petit Le Mans Road Atlanta
Robert Wickens soars to Pilot Challenge title
Robert Wickens was already a champion off the track, but now has the silverware to compliment his racing talents after winning the TCR title in Pilot Challenge.
Joey Barnes
Edited: Oct 16, 2023, 5:04 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
A little over five years removed from sustaining spinal cord injuries from an IndyCar Series accident at Pocono Raceway in 2018, Wickens hoisted his first-ever championship to cap off a drama-filled season last Friday at Road Atlanta.
Wickens and co-pilot Harry Gottsacker, driving the #33 Bryan Herta Autosport Hyundai Elantra N TCR, came in with a 20-point lead over closest rivals Chris Miller and Mikey Taylor in the #17 Unitronic/JDC-Miller Motorsports Audi RS 3 LMS TCR. The title hopes for the BHA duo were raised leading up the green flag when Miller, the class-winning pole-sitter, retired with a mechanical issue.
Needing only to finish in the top eight, Wickens took over for the final stint and prevailed through rain and rivals en route to coasting to a fourth-place finish to lock up his first title, and fifth consecutive drivers’ and teams’ championship for Bryan Herta Autosport.
“I think from the moment the #17 had their issues at the beginning of the race, our entire mindset to win this race shifted,” said Wickens, 34. “It became just protection. We didn't need to get on the podium. We didn't need anything. We just needed to be in the top eight.
“For me, I was just leaving a lot of margin, barely hitting apex curbs, exit curbs, just to try to keep tires and splitter, fresh, like just anything in case there's a late safety car or anything that could come in. I know this weekend we've been bending some wheels on apex curbs throughout the lap, so I was making very sure that wasn't going to be the case for us. But yeah, the second I put my helmet on before we got into my stint, the goal was top eight. It wasn't anything more than that.”
#33: Bryan Herta Autosport with Curb Agajanian, Hyundai Elantra N TCR, TCR: Robert Wickens, Harry Gottsacker
Photo by: Jake Galstad
Although Wickens and Gottsacker failed to visit Victory Lane, they delivered a staggering six runner-up results over the 10 races.
“If you look back through the year, there was obviously a couple that slipped away in the closing stages that, when you watch replays, maybe I could have done things differently,” Wickens said.
“But I'd much rather have this feeling right now than the short-term ecstasy of winning a race. No, it doesn't bother me at all. Obviously, in the moment it bothers me when you lose a race late, but to stand here as champions, to me it doesn't matter at all.”
Even though Wickens earned two wins as a rookie last year, he reflected on “uncharacteristic mistakes” as lessons that shaped him better for this season.
“This year, I felt like I was just a more ironed out professional and I think the results speak for that,” Wickens said. “Harry and I, we barely put a wheel wrong all year. When we did, we put our head down and we corrected our wrongs and that's what got us in championship contention and made the difference.
“You know, I don't know what that means for my career moving forward, but I'm very proud of what we achieved this year in particular, because I know that this year was a much harder year than it was for us last, in terms of car performance and competition. Going into this season, the entire top three TCRs scored more points to date than the champion of 2022 did at the same time. So, just goes to show like a lot of good people were scoring points throughout the way. It wasn't kind of a runaway like in the GS class.
"The fact that there's so many championships up for grabs, anyone really could've taken it. It was nerve-wracking day, but for us, the nerves calmed down quite a bit right after the green flag, which made our lives a little easier.”
Read Also:
- PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports captures IMSA LMP2 title after multiple recoveries
- Late pass attempt by Albuquerque “a desperate move” - Derani
- Petit Le Mans IMSA: MSR wins, Cadillac scoops title after Acura clash
Regarding what’s next for his career, that remains an unknown, but Wickens is open to defending the title or vying for a seat in the IMSA SportsCar Championship.
“That's a good question,” Wickens said. “I know in the short term I'm going on a Disney cruise with my wife and son on Sunday. So, regardless of how this race went, I was going to have fun next week. But no, I would be more than happy to return back with Bryan and Hyundai and try to fight to protect our championship.
“You know, I would love the opportunity to try to get into the WeatherTech series in some way, shape, or form. I don't know, is the answer to that. I wish I could have a better answer for you.”
Sean Jones, co-owner of BHA, joined the post-race press conference and shared, “I do think we have a contract for you to sign, but..”
Then, a member from Turner Motorsports, who were at the press conference after winning the GS drivers’ title, chimed in, “It has another zero on it; the champion's zero.”
To which Jones smiled and said, “No more zeros. We're out of zeroes.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article PR1 Mathiasen Motorsports captures IMSA LMP2 title after multiple recoveries
Next article United Autosports confirms Ben Hanley for 2024 IMSA effort
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Joey Barnes
Max Papis announces departure as IndyCar chief steward
IndyCar
IndyCar 18 h
Max Papis announces departure as IndyCar chief steward
IndyCar unveils full 2027 schedule with Barcelona debut and all-network FOX coverage
IndyCar
IndyCar 19 h
IndyCar unveils full 2027 schedule with Barcelona debut and all-network FOX coverage
Inside AJ Foyt Racing’s transition: Hauger’s arrival, Ferrucci’s future, and the Pierson waiting game
Feature
IndyCar
Feature
IndyCar
Inside AJ Foyt Racing’s transition: Hauger’s arrival, Ferrucci’s future, and the Pierson waiting game
More from
Robert Wickens
Robert Wickens embraces last-minute call-up for IMSA Endurance debut at Road America
IMSA
IMSA
Road America
Robert Wickens embraces last-minute call-up for IMSA Endurance debut at Road America
Robert Wickens full of “gratitude” in home race return after extraordinary industry effort
IMSA
IMSA
Mosport
Robert Wickens full of “gratitude” in home race return after extraordinary industry effort
Robert Wickens set to again compete in IMSA sprint rounds with DXDT Racing
IMSA
IMSA
Robert Wickens set to again compete in IMSA sprint rounds with DXDT Racing
More from
Bryan Herta Autosport
Wickens to make racing comeback in Hyundai TCR car
IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge
IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge
Wickens to make racing comeback in Hyundai TCR car
Wickens still aims to return to “elite level” of motorsport
IMSA
IMSA
Wickens still aims to return to “elite level” of motorsport
Wickens back in racecar, drives BHA Hyundai at Mid-Ohio
IMSA
IMSA
Wickens back in racecar, drives BHA Hyundai at Mid-Ohio
Latest news
"Just undriveable" – Isack Hadjar looking for answers after "massive" struggles in Austin practice
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
27 min
"Just undriveable" – Isack Hadjar looking for answers after "massive" struggles in Austin practice
Maverick Vinales: “If I stay at home, I don’t get paid”
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
56 min
Maverick Vinales: “If I stay at home, I don’t get paid”
The unexpected problem Honda encountered despite its second F1 power unit upgrade
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
1 h
The unexpected problem Honda encountered despite its second F1 power unit upgrade
MotoGP Australian GP: Full starting grid as four riders forced out of Phillip Island race
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
MotoGP Australian GP: Full starting grid as four riders forced out of Phillip Island race
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe