Alex Zanardi confident ahead of second race after positive first day at Misano

BMW guest driver Alessandro Zanardi had a difficult first DTM race at Misano yesterday as the weather conditions complicated an already challenging debut for the 51-year-old.

Zanardi started the race from last position on the grid and was able to stay out of trouble, despite three separate incidents causing two safety car interventions.

“There would have been no point in taking too many risks on the first lap and spinning out. It was important for me to get good experience for Sunday’s race here,” said Zanardi.

The Italian was able to keep up with his competitors during the race, but a mistake by BMW Team RMR, the team managing Zanardi’s M4 DTM, when they pitted the 51-year-old during the first safety car intervention meant that the Italian had to go through the pits twice.

Zanardi had none the less a positive outlook on the outcome of the race: “The race went noticeably better for me than the earlier sessions. I was able to keep up pretty well with the speed of the other drivers, especially towards the end. That gives me confidence for tomorrow.”

The weather forecast for the second race at Misano today is similar to Saturday’s, with rain expected all day until 20:00 CEST, the scheduled time of the qualifying for Race 2.