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Former Formula 1 driver and two-time ChampCar series' champion Alex Zanardi won a gold medal Wednesday at the Paralympic Games in London.
Zanardi, 45 lost both his legs following a horrific crash while racing in the US ChampCar series at the Lausitzring, Germany in 2001, but made a successful return to motorsport just two years later with BMW.
At the same time as lining up in the World Touring Car Championship with BMW, he set out on a new adventure and began competing in hand cycle races. This year, he was selected to represent his country, Italy at the London games.
Today, he captured victory in the Men's Individual H 4 Time Trial, his first of three competitions.
Zanardi crossed the mid-race 8-km mark in 12m11.13 and competed the 16-km race in 24m50.22 to win the gold medal ahead of German Norbert Mosandi and American Oscar Sanchez.
The race was held at the Brands Hatch road course near London, a race track Zanardi knows (very) well from his Formula 3000 days.
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| Alex Zanardi (Photo: London Paralympic Games) |
Zanardi, 45 lost both his legs following a horrific crash while racing in the US ChampCar series at the Lausitzring, Germany in 2001, but made a successful return to motorsport just two years later with BMW.
At the same time as lining up in the World Touring Car Championship with BMW, he set out on a new adventure and began competing in hand cycle races. This year, he was selected to represent his country, Italy at the London games.
Today, he captured victory in the Men's Individual H 4 Time Trial, his first of three competitions.
Zanardi crossed the mid-race 8-km mark in 12m11.13 and competed the 16-km race in 24m50.22 to win the gold medal ahead of German Norbert Mosandi and American Oscar Sanchez.
The race was held at the Brands Hatch road course near London, a race track Zanardi knows (very) well from his Formula 3000 days.
 |
| Alessandro Zanardi of Italy raises his hand cycle in celebration after winning the men's Individual H4 Time Trial on Day 7 of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at Brands Hatch.(Photo: London Paralympic Games) |