Alex Zanardi will make DTM debut with BMW in August at Misano

The Italian racing legend Alex Zanardi will reactivate himself from a retirement in August as a guest in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) meeting at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli.

The first ever DTM round with two night-races is scheduled for August 24-26. Zanardi will drive a specially prepared BMW M4 DTM, adapted to his needs as a double amputee. It would be a DTM debut for the 51-year-old Zanardi, whose last racing appearance was in 2016 in the Italian GT Championship. Previously, he tested BMW M3 DTM car in 2012 and drove the BMW M4 DTM Race Taxi during 2015 season’s finale.

“I feel like a kid in a candy store and massively looking forward to racing the BMW M4 DTM at Misano. As motor-racing enthusiast, I had planned to definitely make the trip to Misano and attend the first DTM night races in the history of the sport. But to now be in the cockpit and contest the races myself is just fantastic,” says Zanardi.

Zanardi raced with BMW in many touring car and GT competitions, including WTCC, but never in DTM

Zanardi was a world-class open-wheel racer when he lost both legs in a horrible crash during the Indy Car race at the Lausitzring in 2001. Despite that loss, the Italian continued his impressive career as sportsman not only in car racing but also para-cycling. He won four Gold and two Silver Medals in the Paralympics and is eight-time Para-Cycling World Champion.

“We are really delighted with having the chance of welcoming such a famous guest driver on the DTM grid, at Misano. Alex Zanardi is extremely popular – and not only in his home country Italy. His extraordinarily impressive performances as an athlete, his imperturbable optimism and his humanity stick out far beyond the sport and already inspired millions all over the world. Alex never displays a half-hearted approach – far from it. As we know him, he also will prepare highly professionally and with maximum ambition for his DTM guest appearance to deliver in great style, in front of his home crowd. Welcome in DTM, dear Alex!”, said Gerhard Berger, the Chairman of DTM’s umbrella organisation ITR, said.

Photos: BMW Motorsport,