The Bosch Motorsport team has announced a new hand-control braking system as a modern solution to braking using hand controls instead of foot pedals. 

The system debuted during the recent IMSA Battle on the Bricks event in Indianapolis. During the debut, the system was piloted by Robert Wickens, 2023 Michelin Challenge TCR (Touring Car class) Champion and former IndyCar driver. Wickens co-drives the Bryan Herta Autosport (BHA) and Hyundai Motor America #33 Elantra N TCR race car. In 2018, an IndyCar accident left Wickens paralyzed. He returned to racing full-time in 2022 with IMSA and BHA using a hand-control system. While he has excelled in every car since his return, his controls were not advancing at the same rate that his driving required, leading Wickens to turn to Bosch Motorsport for potential solutions. 

"The collaboration with Bosch marks a new stage in my career and I can't wait to see what lies on the horizon for myself and other drivers looking to compete at the highest levels of motorsport," Wickens said. 

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. The added technology allows Wickens, and now others, to have more consistency across the application of brakes, faster response rate and advanced diagnostics for safety.

"This innovation project came to us as a need in the sport that our technology could solve, and we didn't look back," said Jacob Bergenske, director of Bosch Motorsport in North America. "Robert Wickens is a standout driver with a bright future and we look forward to seeing how our collaboration will support him for years to come." 

For more information, visit bosch.com.