Robert Wickens inducted into the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame, a tribute to an extraordinary destiny

Like many North American drivers, Robert Wickens made a name for himself in karting in the early 2000s, notably winning three Sunoco Ron Fellows national titles between 2002 and 2005. Quickly propelled into carHe won the Formula BMW USA championship in 2006 and clearly established himself as one of the most promising talents of his generation in Europe.

Vice-champion of Formula 2 in 2009, then GP3 in 2010, he took a significant step forward in 2011 by winning the Formula title Renault 3.5 ahead of Jean-Éric Vergne (2nd) or Daniel Ricciardo (5th). That same year, he served as a test driver for Virgin Racing in Formula 1, confirming his status as a Canadian talent to watch on the international stage. The next stage of his career led him to closed-cockpit categories, with several victories in DTM and a first participation in the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2017 (DNF). But it was in 2018 that his name truly exploded among the general public.

Hired by Schmidt Peterson Motorsports in IndyCarRobert Wickens made a strong impression in his very first race at St. Petersburg, securing pole position. He finished ninth in the Indianapolis 500 and racked up four podium finishes and seven top-five results in just 13 races. At the end of the season, he was crowned Rookie of the Year (11th in the championship). Then came the Pocono crash in August 2018. The extremely violent impact left him paraplegic. At 29, his sporting and personal life took a dramatic turn.

A second career, in a different way

Where many would have given up, the Canadian chose to rebuild. He documented his rehabilitation, shared his progress, and quickly announced his goal: to return to competition. In 2022, he made his comeback behind the wheel of a touring car equipped with manual controls. In his very first race, he finished on the podium. Six races later, he took the win. 

In 2023, he won the title in IMSA in the Michelin Pilot Challenge, becoming the first paraplegic driver to win a major motorsport championship in North America. In 2025, he reached another milestone by finishing on the podium in the TCR category at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, a first for a driver using exclusively hand controls. He also became the first driver with a disability to test a single-seater. Formula E at the Portland E-Prix in 2024 where he was able to get behind the wheel of a GEN3 adapted for manual driving.

"I dreamed of one day entering the Hall of Fame."

"When I was a child, I dreamed of one day entering the Hall of Fame.""The Canadian driver confided during his induction. He recalled the central role of his entourage in each stage of his career, from his uncertain beginnings in karting to his rebuilding after the accident." "One thing never changed: I was surrounded by people who believed in me."

Beyond his results, the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame also recognizes his influence on the sport. Robert Wickens collaborates with engineers to refine hand control systems and works to improve accessibility in the paddocks and on the track. His work with technology partners aims to provide greater independence for paraplegic drivers, both on the road and in competition. His induction thus rewards a career in two distinct phases: first, that of a promising young driver who became a benchmark in single-seater racing, and then that of a driver who returned to the highest level despite a significant disability. 

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