Wickens Targeting Full Season DXDT Corvette Seat in 2026

Robert Wickens said he’s targeting a full-time seat with DXDT Racing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship next season, as he wishes to align himself with General Motors for the long-term.

The 36-year-old Canadian made his GT3 debut in a five-race GTD program around the sprint races this season in DXDT’s Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, primarily alongside co-driver Alec Udell, scoring a season-best fourth place class finish at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park last month.

Salih Yoluc and Corvette factory driver Charlie Eastwood will join Udell for the final two races of the season, which serve as Michelin Endurance Cup rounds.

Wickens expressed his desire to expand his role with the David Askew-owned team into a full-time seat while also aligning himself more with a major manufacturer, such as GM, moving forward.

“I want to be a consistent staple in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship,” he told Sportscar365. “I want to align myself with an OEM and try to play long-term.

“Doing that with General Motors, Team Chevy, and Corvette is, in my mind, the perfect fit.

“For my own career journey, there’s a lot of nostalgia there too. Ron Fellows was always a mentor of mine growing up, and he was so influential in the early years of my career, like he was for so many other Canadians.

“Going full circle and driving a Corvette like he did kind of hits home a little bit more. It’s been an amazing experience, and we’re all working hard to try and continue the relationship.

“The logical progression would be to continue with DXDT Racing.”

When asked if one day achieving status as a factory driver with GM is among Wickens’ future goals, he said: “For sure.”

Wickens added: “I could align myself with General Motors and still be able to work with DXDT Racing like I am now. We leased Tommy Milner for Long Beach, for example.

“I think it’s pretty common knowledge that I’d love to align myself with General Motors for the future. Whether that keeps me in GT3 competition or opens up other opportunities, I’m going to be all for it.

“There are a lot of goals that I have in mind, but I think first and foremost, however it looks, I need to be full-time in 2026, and I think that’s where all of our focus is right now, and I think GM is a pivotal part of that.

“If you just look at the strength of the IMSA grid right now, every OEM factory role is so hard to come by.

“It’s such a prestigious opportunity. I’ve had such great opportunities in my career, racing for Hyundai in TCR and now trying to get myself involved with General Motors and with DXDT Racing.

“There’s a reason why factory seats don’t just pop up all the time. [For] drivers, when they get them, it’s almost like accomplishing your goals as a professional driver.

“But first and foremost for me is where we are today, which is racing for Corvette and DXDT Racing, and I think we have to win a championship, or at least challenge for championships, before I think those future opportunities can be considered.”

DXDT “Where They Need To Be” In First GTD Season

Speaking prior to his final outing of the season at Virginia International Raceway, where he and Udell recorded a tenth place class finish, Wickens said he felt the team is more than capable of achieving top results in WeatherTech Championship competition.

“I feel like we’ve been on the cusp of some really good results, but for one reason or another, it’s never come to fruition,” said Wickens.

“I think David Askew and all the men and women at DXDT Racing are a great group of people.

“For what they’ve been accomplishing this year, you have to look at the fine print a bit, but every weekend they’ve given their drivers, myself included, a package capable of fighting for podiums and victories, and in the 11th hour, it keeps slipping away.

“If you exclude Daytona, where they had some issue mid-race, and didn’t make the finish, they’ve literally been in podium contention in the final hour of every race, regardless of the distance. They’ve been where they need to be.

“The racing gods are cruel sometimes, and I believe nothing in the world comes for free.

“We just have to keep our heads down and keep working hard. I think we’re doing everything right, and we don’t really need to change what we’re doing.

“That being said, [with] DXDT Racing, every weekend I’m part of this team, I can see the growth that they’re showing. Moving up to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is no easy feat.

“They’re doing all the right things. It’s just a matter of time before it all finally clicks, and I believe this team can go on a strong run like you’ve seen with so many other previous champions in the GTD category.”