Zanardi makes a return to F1

More news!

Former Indy car champ and F1 racer Alex Zanardi will return to the Formula 1 cockpit 5 years after losing his legs in a near fatal accident.

He will test for BMW Sauber in a modified version of this years car in Valencia next month.

The car has had hand operated controls fitted onto the steering wheel.

That's great.... I hope he can get a seat on an F1 squad.

I think its just a one off, after all he is 40 years old now, Im sure they did the same thing with a BMW Touring car a couple of years back .

I never knew he lost his legs...was this in an F1 accident??

^ No it was when he went back to CART racing after leaving F1 after 2 seasons with the Williams team, the horrible incident happened at the German round at Lausitz in 2001.

Here is the video in slow motion.

LINKY

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dazza @ Oct 30 2006, 02:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think its just a one off, after all he is 40 years old now, Im sure they did the same thing with a BMW Touring car a couple of years back .

Yes, a one off most likely. It's common practice to hand out F1 tests for publicity (see Hopper). Tony Kanaan was granted a test in a BAR F1 car after winning the IRL title (Honda connection). I'd say BMW is using this test as a reward to Alex, who is a BMW WTCC driver, and as a publicity stunt. It's still a great thing though.

Also, when he was still racing in the states, Nicky and michael Andretti swapped rides for a day at Mid-Ohio. Nicky got a taste of Michael's Honda-powered Champ Car and Michael tried Nicky's RC51 on for size.

It's great too see him back, he's extremely brave and didn't let a problem with his body stop doing what he loves best, I hope he's testing for a long time to come!

^ Indeed..welcome to the board BTW.

Just an update..

Alex Zanardi completed 4 laps in the modified car after 5 years of his near fatal accident.

Im really really happy he exclaimed afterwards, I feel like somebody had cast me on a desert island for many years and then suddenly he gets joined by a top model..

He went on "its a fantastic feeling to see all the faces smiling when i brought the car home- that was the highlight of my day...

Good on him

Thats great, he's a true hero for not giving up and fighting his way back to motor racing despite his accident. Now thats determination for you.