Zanardi to race at Spa 24
As a works BMW driver Zanardi will race a modified BMW Z4 GT3.
#33 Roal Motorsport BMW Z4: Alex Zanardi
BMW AG
Alex Zanardi has been announced to embark on his very first 24-hour endurance debut at the Spa 24 Hours at the end of July.
As a works BMW driver, Zanardi will race a modified Z4 GT3, first at Paul Ricard at the end of June and then at the 67th edition of the classic Spa 24 Hours.
We are really excited to take on this great new adventure with Alex.
Jens Marquardt, BMW Motorsport Director
"To compete in the Total 24 Hours of Spa will definitely be the next highlight in my career,” commented Zanardi.
"I have been dreaming of racing in an endurance classic like this for a long time, and it is great that Jens Marquardt and BMW Motorsport are turning this dream into a reality.
If you first look at it, it seems impossible that a guy with no legs like me competes together with ‘normal’ drivers in such a highly competitive, tough and prestigious event.
"But I know that my friends at BMW Motorsport have all the technical expertise and innovative ideas to master this challenge. I really want to thank them for all their efforts and am looking forward to this new adventure for our BMW family.”
BMW engineers are already working on solutions of enabling Zanardi and his team mates during the driver changes.
Zanardi, who lost both of lower extremities in a CART accident at Lausitzring in 2001 has previously competed alone in WTCC and last year in the Blancpain Sprint Series.
“We are really excited to take on this great new adventure with Alex,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt.
“In his 2014 comeback season with the modified BMW Z4 GT3 he once more demonstrated that everything is possible if you bring determination and technical know-how together. To participate together in the Total 24 Hours of Spa is the next milestone in our long and close partnership.
"For sure, it is not an easy task to develop the modifications which are required when Alex shares the cockpit with other drivers. But is a great challenge for our engineers at BMW Motorsport which we face with a lot of enthusiasm."
The specially adapted BMW Z4 is expected to begin testing at the end of next month.
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