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17 Sep 2003, 06:53 (Ref:721497)
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#1 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 5,449
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Racing comeback by Alessandro Zanardi
Racing comeback by Alessandro Zanardi
09/16/2003 The Italian will be driving for BMW at the ETCC race in Monza on 19 October Munich. Alessandro Zanardi will be competing in motorsport again for the first time since he suffered severe injuries as a result of an accident two years ago. The Italian lost both legs when he was competing in a round of the American ChampCar Championship at the Lausitz EuroSpeedway on 15 September 2001. Now, he'll be back in business again for BMW in the FIA European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) on 19 October 2003. In Monza, Zanardi will be the third pilot in the BMW Italy-Spain Team managed by Roberto Ravaglia driving in the final race of the European Championship. He will be piloting a BMW 320i specially adapted to his requirements. In the race two years ago, Zanardi was in the lead. He pitted 13 laps before the finishing line and then lost control of his car just after the exit. There was a bad crash with another car and the former Formula 1 pilot spent several days on the danger list. "Two years ago I escaped death by a whisker," commented the 36-year-old from Bologna. "Although the situation was really bad at the time, I set myself the goal of leading a normal life again at some time in the future. Today, I can walk, I swim, I go skiing, and on 19 October I will complete my vision by competing seriously in a race. I should like to thank the entire BMW Team Italy for this fantastic opportunity and for all the energy that has been invested in the engineering that was necessary for me. I also have to thank the company Fadiel for their inestimable cooperation. I believe that sometimes in life it's difficult to regain your courage after a stroke of bad luck. If I manage to keep pace in Monza in October, I shall have reaffirmed my faith in myself: where there's a will, there's a way." The engineers from Ravaglia Motorsport have converted a BMW 320i for Alex Zanardi. He can accelerate on the steering wheel and the clutch is operated on the gear shift. Team manager Roberto Ravaglia is totally committed to the project: "When Alex came to us and said he wanted to drive a BMW, we immediately put all systems on go to provide full technical support. We have already seen some exciting performances from the telemetry data. His performance is particularly impressive when you reflect on the obvious difficulties and the lack of training. That motivates the team to prepare the car in the best possible way." BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen is enthusiastic about the project: "It's an honour for us that Alex is able to make his dream come true in a BMW. We are extremely happy to provide him with the support of all our expertise and engineering skills. His project reflects the BMW Motorsport philosophy of always searching for new frontiers. Whatever the result of the race, Alex has already won through as far as I'm concerned." Alessandro Zanardi will turn out for some promotional laps with the BMW 320i in Monza on 25 September and he will also be available to answer questions from the media on this occasion. From BMW Motorsport |
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17 Sep 2003, 07:40 (Ref:721538)
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Rookie
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 68
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Excellent!
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17 Sep 2003, 08:32 (Ref:721577)
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#3 | ||
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Join Date: Jul 2000
Posts: 10,264
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great news - a full-time drive in 2004 perhaps
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17 Sep 2003, 09:19 (Ref:721604)
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Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 13,000
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This'll be great. I'm sure Alex will be extremely competitive,and his sheer presence will be a joy. I can hardly find enough nice things to say about him.
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17 Sep 2003, 11:12 (Ref:721666)
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Veteran
Join Date: Apr 1999
Posts: 1,631
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Fantastic!
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17 Sep 2003, 11:31 (Ref:721680)
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#6 | ||
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Rookie
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 40
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I'm very happy, he was my favourite dirver since 90's
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17 Sep 2003, 12:00 (Ref:721718)
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#7 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 802
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fantastic, thats hes got back into competitive racing, sure he'll be the crowds favourite.
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__________________
Runner-up in the 2004 & 2005 Motorsport News Photo Competition
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17 Sep 2003, 13:56 (Ref:721883)
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Rookie
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 7
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Has the 320 got enough horsepower to do a proper donut?
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17 Sep 2003, 14:14 (Ref:721892)
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#9 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,536
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yeah all this is so cool and watch he actually wins, lol
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__________________
SuperTrucks rule- end of story. Listen to my ramblings! Follow my twitter @davidAET I am shameless ...
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17 Sep 2003, 14:29 (Ref:721902)
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Race Official Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,830
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 This is great news for autosport fans. |
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17 Sep 2003, 15:20 (Ref:721959)
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#11 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 532
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A true champion comes back to Motorsport, hes taken on life and won - now its time to forget about the last 2 years of hell for Zanardi and I welcome him to motorsport!
Someone please sign him for 2004
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__________________
..:: SPARK Motorsport : SPARKS ARE FLYING ::.. "Those that can, do. And those that can't, talk about it."
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17 Sep 2003, 16:58 (Ref:722075)
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#12 | ||
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Take That Fan
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 9,121
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Wonderful News - just heard it on 5live on the way home from work.
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__________________
There is only one way of life and thats your own ! ! !
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17 Sep 2003, 18:26 (Ref:722173)
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#13 | |
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Race Official Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,830
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I think he's one of the few drivers (or sportsmen?) who has no enemies.
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17 Sep 2003, 19:16 (Ref:722233)
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Rookie
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 16
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I remember seeing the accident two years ago and saying "God, I hope he is alive". When I got home and checked the updates I hoped and hoped that he would get through those few days. I never ever thought he would race again. I saw an interview with him and his wife some months after the accident and you could see that they had both been through the most trying of times. They were both very thin, very white and very worn out. I am so happy he is going to race again.
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17 Sep 2003, 21:01 (Ref:722369)
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Rookie
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 16
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I have found a transcript of the interview. It does not show the pain and the love.
http://www.reportroadrage.co.uk/champcar/interview.htm |
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17 Sep 2003, 21:26 (Ref:722404)
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Rookie
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 16
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Somehow I will get to Monza on 19 October and smile as I wipe away a tear or two.
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18 Sep 2003, 05:48 (Ref:722668)
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 1999
Posts: 3,919
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Re: Racing comeback by Alessandro Zanardi
Quote:
Quote:
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__________________
Supertouring Forever and Ever...
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18 Sep 2003, 06:14 (Ref:722679)
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#18 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 5,449
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Maybe they weren't willing to take the risk involved???
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18 Sep 2003, 07:00 (Ref:722708)
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Rookie
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 40
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Maybe because in F1 he drova a Williams powered by BMW ?????
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18 Sep 2003, 07:52 (Ref:722739)
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#20 | |
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Race Official Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2000
Posts: 8,961
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He was in F1 with Williams before BMW were on the scene.
I'd hazard a guess he approached BMW because they are always involved in motorsport in one form or another on an international basis. |
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18 Sep 2003, 08:17 (Ref:722759)
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#21 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,618
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it woould have been even better if he would have raced a red Alfa .. but hey .. if Zanardi drive a BMW .. it will be the first time in my life that i will suport a BMW driver
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__________________
Apocalypse becomes creation / Gor-Gor shall erase the nation Before you leap into his gizzard / Fall and worship Tyrant lizard Ciao Marco
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18 Sep 2003, 09:40 (Ref:722835)
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#22 | |
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Registered User
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,661
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It's probably because the BMW is rear-wheel-drive and that's what he's used to
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18 Sep 2003, 09:51 (Ref:722842)
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#23 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,073
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Do we really care what kind of car he competes in? The only important thing is that he has been able to come back to do one of the things he loves.
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__________________
"He's still a young guy and I always think, slightly morbidly, the last thing you learn is how to die and at the end of the day everybody learns every single day." - The Ever-Cheerfull Ron Dennis on Lewis Hamilton.
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18 Sep 2003, 16:06 (Ref:723172)
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#24 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,211
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Too right - get him into proper racing, not F1 or champ car processions!
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__________________
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
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18 Sep 2003, 17:34 (Ref:723260)
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#25 | |
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Race Official Veteran
Join Date: May 1998
Posts: 10,999
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Good on you Alex.
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