Wickens hospitalized after major Nurburgring Nordschleife crash

Key Facts

Wickens – who suffered a serious spinal cord injury in an IndyCar crash at Pocono in 2018 that left him paraplegic – was making his debut in the series, sharing a Target SRL-entered Hyundai Elantra N with his fellow Canadian co-driver Mark Wilkins.
Following the major crash at the halfway point of the endurance race, which reportedly happened at the end of the Dottinger-Hohe section towards the end of the lap, the 35-year-old Canadian was transported to nearby Neuwied hospital for precautionary checks, having been declared “conscious and alert” by his Bryan Herta Autosport team on its social media channels.
Wickens uses hand controls to manipulate the throttle, brake and clutch, which is a system that can be turned off so his co-drivers can drive the car in a more regular manner.
Due to his recovery from the spinal injury “plateauing”, Wickens has set his long-term goals on becoming the first disabled drive to race in the Indianapolis 500.