How Corvette racer Wickens became the fastest paraplegic on Earth
Posted by Talbot Payne on June 8, 2026

Brandon Badraoui, Lumen Digital Agency
General Motors brands are on the cutting edge of hands-free driving. The General also has a feet-free success story to tell.
Using an innovative hand-control system, paraplegic Chevrolet Corvette race driver Robert Wickens is one of the fastest drivers in IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar GTD-class racing.
The so-called Bosch electronic braking system, developed in conjunction with GM and Corvette Racing team Pratt Miller in New Hudson, is an evolution of what Wickens has used since returning to motorsports in 2022 after a horrific IndyCar crash at Pocono Raceway in 2018. Wickens and his engineers — with physical assist from ex-Saginaw Valley State football standout Josh Gibbs — have developed a system that works seamlessly with teammates and offers potential for the broader consumer marketplace in an age when electronic systems make foot pedals redundant.


