Breaking barriers: how Bosch Motorsport helped Robert Wickens reach new heights
Robert Wickens was a successful racing driver. Until one fateful day in 2018, when Wickens had a devastating accident leaving him paralyzed. But that didn't stop him. And with Bosch Motorsport as a partner, Wickens now has a hand control braking system that was made for racing.
Unlocking the full potential with innovative technology
Racing is all about the finely tuned gears of man and machine. Accelerating, braking—everything is done by the driver's feet. But what happens when a racing driver can no longer use his feet? Enter Bosch Motorsport, where redefining electronics to solve new challenges is in Bosch's DNA. The Bosch Motorsport team used its expertise in braking technology and vehicle control to develop a modern solution for braking with hand pedals instead of foot pedals.
This groundbreaking technology not only allows improvements in reaction time—it also proves that an injury does not have to define who you are. So join Robert Wickens and Bosch Motorsport on the journey and experience how technology doesn’t just break barriers, but makes dreams come true.
Episode 1
Discover in our first episode, how Bosch revolutionizes hand control systems.
Looking at where we are right now, and what Bosch is able to provide for me, I feel like it’s gonna create almost endless opportunities.
Episode 2
How do you get race-ready with a new technology? Dive into episode 2 to find out.
It’s really cool to make race cars go fast. But to have an effect on the human side and unlock someone’s full potential — it doesn’t get much better than that.
Episode 3
The moment is here! How does Robert Wickens’ hand control braking system handle the pressure when things heat up? Find out in Episode 3.
This is the next step in what I believe is a monumental movement to support full hand control braking system for a driver like Robert to take the next step in his career.
It’s all about the feeling: the technology behind Wickens electronic braking system
There's a lot of feel that goes into braking a race car. In the modulation phase, the feedback a racing driver gets from his feet is crucial. Robert Wickens wanted the same braking sensation that enabled body drivers with their foot. Before Bosch stepped on the plate, Wickens was unable to react as he would have liked due to the system's long latency period.
For the redesign of Wickens' hand-controlled braking system, Bosch utilized its existing electronic brake system (EBS) module from the Le Mans Daytona hybrid (LMDh) class with its trusted controls platform and display to provide a more robust solution. The added technology allows Wickens to have more consistency across the application of brakes, faster response rate and advanced diagnostics for safety. With this system, Robert Wickens and hopefully other impaired drivers too have the world at their fingertips.
