BOWMANVILLE, Ontario — What per week for Robert Wickens, who picked up his second win in seven days Saturday whereas celebrating the beginning of his first baby.

Wickens returned to his native Canada and teamed with countryman Mark Wilkins to win the Touring Automotive class of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Problem race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

The win adopted their triumph final week at Watkins Glen in New York, which marked Wickens’ first victory since he suffered a career-halting spinal twine damage in a 2018 IndyCar race. He returned to competitors this yr with Bryan Herta Autosport in a specifically outfitted Hyundai that permits Wickens to speed up and brake utilizing hand controls.

“It has been a fairy story, actually,” Wickens stated. “The win at Watkins Glen felt very deserved. We have labored exhausting. We have been there each race this yr. It lastly clicked once we bought that win. We thought, ‘Let’s take this momentum into our dwelling race.'”

However his return to Canada was interrupted when Wickens’ spouse, Karli, went into labor two weeks early. Wickens and Wilkins have been in the midst of the observe stroll Thursday when Karli referred to as and informed her husband he wanted to hurry again to Indianapolis.

“She stated, ‘I would like you dwelling tomorrow morning,'” Wickens stated. “I can not thank everybody at Bryan Herta Autosport sufficient — not just for being understanding, however for not making me really feel like there was any strain. They made it very clear that household all the time comes first.”

The couple welcomed their son, Wesley Joseph, on Friday, and Wickens made it again to the observe Saturday to show his first laps on the circuit. He began final at school, labored his method as much as third and turned the No. 33 Hyundai Elantra N TCR over to Wilkins halfway by means of the race.

“I’ve by no means been so ready forward of a race,” Wickens stated. “However I’ve additionally by no means jumped right into a race and not using a single lap of observe. Actually, it is simply wonderful. I undoubtedly did not anticipate to win.”

Wilkins drove to the lead on a restart with 20 minutes left and led a podium sweep for 3 of Herta’s automobiles.

“The story is de facto Robert,” Wilkins stated. “Coming in with no laps and passing three automobiles on his first lap? He hadn’t turned a lap in any respect right here in I do not know what number of years. Mega drive.”

Wickens, who has a guide position with Arrow McLaren SP in IndyCar, was being cheered by the IndyCar paddock at Mid-Ohio Sports activities Automotive Course.

“It’s not solely spectacular to see that he has the braveness to step again within the race automobile and get adjusted to the hand controls and be heads up about every thing and actually relearn the right way to drive a race automobile,” stated Colton Herta, the son of Wickens’ crew proprietor, Bryan Herta. “It is spectacular when you possibly can simply do this, however then even be very quick and be successful a race. It exhibits the dedication and fervour that he has for racing. I feel everybody at IndyCar is de facto glad to see that.”

Michael Lewis completed second within the No. 1 BHA Hyundai he co-drove with Taylor Hagler. Harry Gottsacker was third within the No. 98 BHA Hyundai he shared with Parker Chase.

“It has been a blur,” Wickens stated. “Every thing up till Thursday afternoon was fairly calm. It has been a world of feelings. I feel I bought all my tears out on Friday when our son Wesley was born and he was wholesome. I simply cannot wait to get again dwelling and see the child once more.”