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23 Oct 2005, 16:05 (Ref:1441364) | #1 | |
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Zanardi for Autosport International Racing Driver of the year 2005 ?
What happened in race 2 of the WTCC at Oschersleben on the afternoon of 28.08.2005 was one of the most monumental happenings in the history of our sport. A disabled competitor won at the highest level of touring car racing in the world beating, 27 world class, able-bodied adversaries. Factor in the 4-year precursor to that day, which began with the horrific events at Lausitz in 2001, and you really have to stand back in absolute awe at the person that is Alex Zanardi. IMO no other driver is more deserved of this award in 2005 than Alex himself... and I would hazzard a guess that the 9 suggestions on page 60 of this week's Autosport list would agree with me. What do we think ?
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23 Oct 2005, 16:49 (Ref:1441386) | #2 | ||
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Absolutely in agreement.
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24 Oct 2005, 09:57 (Ref:1441937) | #3 | ||
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Yes, so am I. Zanardi is a very special and insprational human being.
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24 Oct 2005, 10:33 (Ref:1441961) | #4 | ||
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Mm, it's a difficult one, because I am guessing Alex himself would not want to be treated differently to the other drivers just cos of his disability. And 1 win is not as good as Priaulx and Muller (most of them).
Maybe the Gregor Grant award. On performance in the face of adversity he wins hands down. But on sheer performance in isolation he does not. |
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24 Oct 2005, 10:47 (Ref:1441979) | #5 | ||
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Yes, very valid points. Is the Gregor Grant award given at the same time as the others and how is that decided? I've forgotten.
I'd certainly like to see real recognition for Alex for the reasons given by davyboy. |
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24 Oct 2005, 11:46 (Ref:1442032) | #6 | |
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Valid points for sure. I do know Alex tries hard not to be treated differently, but its impossible to ignore his predicament. His achievement is a watershed not just in terms of motor-racing, but in all sport. Its extremely rare [if not the first time ever] that a disabled person has climbed to the winners rostrom at world level in such a physical sport. It would be a sad indictment of our sport if it went unrecognized this year.
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1 Nov 2005, 21:19 (Ref:1449806) | #7 | ||
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Couldn;t agree more. The man is an inspiration.
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1 Nov 2005, 22:10 (Ref:1449859) | #8 | |
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My thoughts exactly ensign.
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1 Nov 2005, 22:27 (Ref:1449879) | #9 | ||
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As a disabled person myself, and working with others, this might seem a little harsh, but I don't think Alex deserves an overall performance award. Achievement against adversity, undoubtedly, but the win came from finishing 8th in the previous race and holding on to the lead (admittedly very well) rather than actually beating the world-class field in question on pure merit.
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2 Nov 2005, 00:28 (Ref:1449974) | #10 | ||||
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Supertouring Forever and Ever... |
2 Nov 2005, 02:10 (Ref:1450013) | #11 | ||
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Not only did alex hold them off- but he lapped with the best, no one passed at the last lap when it counted- are we to say pole winners only hold off comeptition when they win flag to flag?- no winning from the front means you set the pace-
you are the Fox and all are hunting you. Zanardi is one clever fox. and besides he had a few podiums this year, a nominations certainly, although Kimi and Alonso come to mind as driver of the year, the votes must be cast- i have not seen all of Zanardi performances as i have the F1 guys due to Tele schedules, but Zanardi is a certainly deserving champion. |
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2 Nov 2005, 09:02 (Ref:1450162) | #12 | ||
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Alex has done much more than achieve against diversity. He's not competed in 'special' or 'disabled only' sports. He has gone in against abled-bodied athletes, in a physical sport, at world level, without any favours... and won... ON MERIT ! This is monumental and an inspiration to disabled and able bodied people alike. |
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2 Nov 2005, 14:04 (Ref:1450435) | #13 | |||
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5 Nov 2005, 16:28 (Ref:1452854) | #14 | |||
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5 Nov 2005, 17:32 (Ref:1452896) | #15 | ||
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From WTCC's lastest press release
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19 Nov 2005, 07:13 (Ref:1464739) | #16 | ||
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Supertouring Forever and Ever... |
20 Dec 2005, 16:45 (Ref:1487455) | #17 | ||
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In DTM-land they have choosen him as “Driver of the Year” in the category Touring and Sports Car Racing:
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A suprise they didn't choose a DTM driver, but it shows how many fans the Italian driver has. |
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20 Dec 2005, 17:47 (Ref:1487484) | #18 | ||
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By the way, Zanardi was one of two drivers to win after finishing 8th in first race. Other was Fabrizio Giovanardi at Spa (he finished 8th and started from pole. Later on Farfus was DQ'd from race 1 and Giovanardi was classified 7th)
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22 Dec 2005, 15:16 (Ref:1488756) | #19 | |
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At least the German racing fans managed to recognize true heroism in Zanardi. His achievements this year have got to go down as among the greatest ever in sport. A truely amazing human being.
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22 Dec 2005, 16:13 (Ref:1488788) | #20 | ||
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*cough*sympathyvote*cough*
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31 Dec 2005, 20:38 (Ref:1492611) | #21 | |||
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31 Dec 2005, 22:56 (Ref:1492667) | #22 | ||
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Objectively he was not the Touring Car Racer of the Year. I'd say Paffett was, but surely those who finished ahead of Zanardi in the WTCC would be better? They voted for him as a disabled racing driver, not as a racing driver.
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1 Jan 2006, 11:42 (Ref:1492789) | #23 | ||
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1 Jan 2006, 14:00 (Ref:1492842) | #24 | ||
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Priaulx won the WTCC in a privateer car. The same car as Zanardi was driving.
Zanardi gained votes from the Germans because of his disability. Not knocking it, but stating a fact. Like Kratinos winning the comedy 1st prize in 423BC; he came out of retirement cos Aristophanes knocked him the previous year for being an ancient alcoholic, so he wrote a mickey-take play with him torn between his wife Komodia (Comedy) and mistress Putine (booze). Possibly a sympathy vote. |
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1 Jan 2006, 15:02 (Ref:1492870) | #25 | ||||
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