Motorsport: Zanardi to drive an F1 car again

Italian driver Alex Zanardi will return to the Formula One cockpit with BMW Sauber in Spain next month, five years after losing his legs in a near-fatal accident.

BMW today said Zanardi, 40, would drive a modified version of this year's grand prix car at the Valencia circuit on November 24-26.

The car will have special hand-operated controls on the steering wheel.

Zanardi nearly bled to death and had both legs amputated after a 320km/h collision at the Lausitzring while competing in the United States-based Cart championship in September, 2001.

The former Jordan, Minardi, Lotus and Williams Formula One driver has since made a remarkable racing comeback, winning two rounds of the world touring car championship (WTCC) with BMW to date.

"Of course, I know that I won't get a contract with the Formula One team," said Zanardi, a double Cart champion.

"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."

BMW team boss Mario Theissen said the idea of Zanardi getting back in the car had started as something of a joke when the Italian raised the subject at the start of the year.

"We will give him this chance now, the engineers made it possible," he said.

"I cannot wait to watch his reaction after the test."

- REUTERS