Achievement that deserves the highest respect - Theissen

On 25th November, Alessandro Zanardi celebrated a spectacular return to the wheel of a Formula One car. BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen reveals his total respect for the unique willpower of the Italian, who returned to motor racing despite his handicap.

Alessandro Zanardi always had one thing more than anything else in mind: to operate racing cars at their limit. Even the horrific accident in 2001, in which he lost both of his legs, failed to change him. As he was leaving the pit lane during the ChampCar race at the Lausitzring, a competitor collided with the Italian over 300km/h. Just two years later, Zanardi celebrated his return to motorsports with BMW - as a touring car driver for BMW Team Italy-Spain. In both 2005 and 2006, he was able to win a world championship race.

"I have never seen Alessandro over ambitious," says Mario Theissen. "He has the ability to be extremely focussed on the goals he has set his mind to. He pursues these goals with a great deal of energy. However, it is clearly evident that he always has fun at the same time."

At the end of 2005, the idea surfaced to let Zanardi test in a BMW Sauber F1 Team car. Less than a year later the idea project became a reality: In Valencia, the family man completed several laps and impressed all with his fast times. "With his unique attitude he was able to celebrate a racing comeback, as well as returning to a Formula One cockpit," adds Theissen. "This achievement deserves the highest respect."