30/10/2006
NEWS STORY
BMW has confirmed that former F1 star and two-time CART Champion will test one of its F1.06 Formula One cars next month, at the Formula BMW World Final at Valencia.
Returning to F1 in 1999, following a highly successful CART career, Zanardi, up against (teammate) Ralf Schumacher in the Williams-Supertec, clearly struggled.
He returned to CART, but was then horrifically injured in a freak accident at the Lausitzring in September 2001.
At a time when the Italian was considered lucky to be alive, having lost both legs, the ability to walk again, far less race, was the challenge he faced. A challenge that he met head on.
He has since not only returned to racing, enjoying success with BMW in the WTCC, he also returned to the Lausitzring to complete the 'race' in which he was so badly injured.
Announcing the test, BMW team boss, Mario Theissen, said: "We will give him this chance now that the engineers have made it possible. I cannot wait to watch his reaction after the test."
The Italian will operate the car via hand-operated controls on the F1.06's steering wheel
"Of course, I know that I won't get a contract with the Formula One team," said Zanardi. "However, having the chance to drive an F1 racer again is just incredible. Formula One is all about development speed. Therefore I'm really excited to see what has changed since my last grand prix in 1999. I still feel the fire burning in me."