Zanardi Formula 1 test confirmed

Alessandro Zanardi will make his return to the cockpit of a Formula One car. On the occasion of the DELL Formula BMW World Final, at Valencia from 24th to 26th November, the 40-year-old Italian will hit the track at the wheel of a modified BMW Sauber F1.06. By driving for the BMW Sauber F1 Team, Zanardi will become the first person whith amputated legs to test an F1 machine.

“First of all I would like to say thank you to BMW for this opportunity. It is just amazing for me. I know that I won’t get a contract with the F1 team, however, having the chance to drive an F1 car again is just incredible. I’m really excited to see what has changed since my last Grand Prix in 1999. I can hardly wait for the moment, when the V8 engine is started,” Zanardi commented.

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen said: “Zanardi is a truly impressive character. With an unprecedented show of will and dedication, he fought his way back into motor racing and proved in the WTCC that he is able to win races at the highest level.

It was rather a joke when he asked me at the beginning of the year, if he could do an F1 test with us. We will give him this chance now as the engineers made it possible.”

Zanardi will drive a BMW Sauber F1.06 that differs in many ways from the car that is used by the BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers. It features a special brake pedal, which has been moved to the right side of the cockpit.

A conventional throttle is missing and to accelerate Zanardi will use the shifting paddle on the left rear side of the steering wheel, which has been modified for this purpose.

The paddle travel was increased considerably, in order to allow the right throttle percentage and smooth acceleration.