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Former CART series' champion and paralympic games medallist Alex Zanardi was a guest of BMW at the finale of the DTM this past weekend at Hockenheim.
Zanardi sadly lost his two legs in a terrifying accident that happened in 2001 during a CART race on the Lausitzring oval in Germany. However, he raced competitively a BMW fitted with manual controls in the WTCC, and even drove a ChampCar and a Formula 1 car fitted with hand commands in the past.
Now there are rumours that suggest that Zanardi would test a modified BMW M3 DTM car.
“To be honest with you, I really don't know. I have never even sat in the car before. We need to see if Jens (Marquardt, BMW Motorsport Director) is willing to give such a present to an old friend! You know, I became the first driver without legs to win a major race (a WTCC race driving for BMW). So we'll see,” Zanardi explained.
There was also another rumour that started to circulate in America, saying that Zanardi would be interested to compete in the Indy 500 aboard a car fitted with hand controls.
“You know me well. I talk a lot and journalists sometimes make me say things that I did not really said. I still have good friends in America but to contest the Indy 500 one day would be a huge project that would involved a lot of people. And it all comes down to your motivation. I am 47 now. I've been twice a CART series' champion and I also raced in Formula 1. But this is all behind me now,” Zanardi said.
“When you're just 20 years old, you can think about your passion all the time. But at my age, there are other things in life than motorsport. And if I cannot give 100% of my attention and dedication to a project, I prefer not to do it. Plus, I am linked to BMW and they are not involved in IndyCar racing, so that alone represents a major hurdle to tackle,” Zanardi continued.
“People also ask me if I am going to compete in the next winter paralympic games. I don't know! I haven't even tried the sport yet! I am really proud of the three medals I won in handcycling in London. But this is also past history for me. I was the oldest competitor over there. I still can bite. But it's really different in motorsport. The young kids are hungry like wolves. That's why I would need to be totally dedicated to one project, whether that is DTM or Indycar to be really successful. And for the moment, like I said, I have other interests in life,”said the likeable Italian.
Zanardi sadly lost his two legs in a terrifying accident that happened in 2001 during a CART race on the Lausitzring oval in Germany. However, he raced competitively a BMW fitted with manual controls in the WTCC, and even drove a ChampCar and a Formula 1 car fitted with hand commands in the past.
 |
| Alex Zanardi won the WTCC race in Brno in 2009. (Photo FIA WTCC) |
Now there are rumours that suggest that Zanardi would test a modified BMW M3 DTM car.
“To be honest with you, I really don't know. I have never even sat in the car before. We need to see if Jens (Marquardt, BMW Motorsport Director) is willing to give such a present to an old friend! You know, I became the first driver without legs to win a major race (a WTCC race driving for BMW). So we'll see,” Zanardi explained.
There was also another rumour that started to circulate in America, saying that Zanardi would be interested to compete in the Indy 500 aboard a car fitted with hand controls.
 |
| New DTM champion Bruno Spengler with Alex Zanardi (Photo: BMW) |
“You know me well. I talk a lot and journalists sometimes make me say things that I did not really said. I still have good friends in America but to contest the Indy 500 one day would be a huge project that would involved a lot of people. And it all comes down to your motivation. I am 47 now. I've been twice a CART series' champion and I also raced in Formula 1. But this is all behind me now,” Zanardi said.
“When you're just 20 years old, you can think about your passion all the time. But at my age, there are other things in life than motorsport. And if I cannot give 100% of my attention and dedication to a project, I prefer not to do it. Plus, I am linked to BMW and they are not involved in IndyCar racing, so that alone represents a major hurdle to tackle,” Zanardi continued.
 |
| Alex Zanardi showing his three paralympic games' medals. Photo: René Fagnan |
“People also ask me if I am going to compete in the next winter paralympic games. I don't know! I haven't even tried the sport yet! I am really proud of the three medals I won in handcycling in London. But this is also past history for me. I was the oldest competitor over there. I still can bite. But it's really different in motorsport. The young kids are hungry like wolves. That's why I would need to be totally dedicated to one project, whether that is DTM or Indycar to be really successful. And for the moment, like I said, I have other interests in life,”said the likeable Italian.