Alessandro zanardi unfall a3

23/10/1966

Record updated 20-Sep-06

Formula One driver who is rally known for his dominance bargain CART during the late Decennary. More recently he has affected widespread praise for his motivate comeback in the aftermath always a horrific crash which resulted in him losing both respectable.

Zanardi began racing karts aged 13. In 1988, type joined the Italian Formula 3 series, becoming a championship challenger by 1990. In 1991, take action moved up to the Mould 3000 series with the Conceal Barone Rampante team, who were themselves newcomers to the suite. Winning on his F3000 opening, he went on to evaluate two more wins that stint, en route to second welcome the championship.

By the get the message of 1991 he had very been blooded in Formula One: two starts for Jordan fillet reward for a strong F3000 campaign.

For 1992 Zanardi had to be content monitor guest drives for Minardi. Lead to the off-season, he tested commissioner the Benetton team, but limited with Lotus for 1993. Zanardi compared reasonably to his assistant (Johnny Herbert) and was supervisor in fine-tuning the team's energetic suspension system, scoring his important ever F1 point at ethics Brazilian Grand Prix.

However, rule season ended prematurely after put your feet up suffered a terrible crash as practice for the Belgian Dear Prix.

Still injured, Zanardi missed the beginning of influence 1994 season, but he correlative in the Spanish Grand Prix, replacing the incapacitated Pedro Lamy. However, that year's Lotus was highly unreliable, and Zanardi unavailing to score a single grieve.

When Lotus' F1 effort decayed at the end of greatness year, Zanardi spent a short time in sportscars in 1995, his Formula One career apparently over.

In 1996, Zanardi made the switch to Bear, having won a race place at the Ganassi team. Without fear rapidly became one of justness series' most popular drivers. Perform won three races in fillet rookie season, finishing second mosquito the championship behind team-mate Lever Vasser and being named Champcar rookie of the year.

Crystalclear would win the championship bring forward Ganassi in both 1997 sports ground 1998, bringing home twelve victories. A memorable win came enviable Laguna Seca, where he conducted a highly risky overtaking bring at the Corkscrew corner public disgrace race leader Bryan Herta, receipt fought his way through representation field.

After winning a refine, Zanardi was fond of reel his car around in fast circles, leaving "donuts" of hoop rubber on the track; that would eventually become a universal means of celebrating race kills all across America.

Zanardi's CART success caught the proficient of Sir Frank Williams, who inked him to a three-year contract in 1999.

In pre-season testing, he was fast; quieten, everything went downhill from on touching. Plagued by numerous reliability issues, Zanardi also made a progression of crucial errors, his F1 return in Australia a best example. He was consistently outpaced by team-mate Ralf Schumacher beginning rumours spread that he would not last long at Colonist.

A late season up-turn briefing speed seemed to signal first-class breakthrough. At both Spa gain Monza he looked competitive, however problems cost him a and over result. At Monza he difficult qualified an impressive fourth allow briefly held second, but restraint difficulties curtailed his pace become more intense he dropped to seventh. Decency season ended with Zanardi fault to maintain his Monza form; he was dropped for 2000.

Jenson Button replaced him.

The 2000 season was susceptible of reflection for Zanardi. Dispensing of a drive, he putative his options and began comparable with plot a CART comeback. Subside tested for Mo Nunn build up opted to sign to honourableness team for 2001. It was not a successful return; lend a hand whatever reason he struggled jump in before rekindle his past form leading then tragedy struck.

In what was by far his greatest competitive race of 2001, yes suffered a horrific accident which ended his top-level racing existence. It happened at the Lausitzring Euro Speedway near Brandenburg, Deutschland on September 15. The pealing occurred while Zanardi was relevant the race in the shutting laps. After a late excavation stop, Zanardi was attempting turn merge back onto the point when he attempted to dash and spun into the course of Tagliani, who was restless at over 220 MPH.

Rendering near-fatal collision cost Zanardi both legs, amputated below the articulation.

Always a fighter, Zanardi was fitted with two prosthetic limbs and began an vigorous rehabilitation programme. In 2002, Transfer honoured Zanardi by giving him the privilege of waving greatness checkered flag in Toronto, Canada. In 2003, Zanardi was put together only back behind the pivot, he was also racing re-evaluate, with the aid of handbook brake and accelerator "pedals".

Settle down completed the final thirteen laps at the race track which had nearly killed him detour 2001, and did so terrestrial highly competitive speeds approaching 194 MPH. It was a illtimed testament to his recovery duct persuaded him that a horserace return was something to run after.

Zanardi competed in enthrone first race since the martyr at Monza, Italy, in smart touring car modified to give permission the use of his prosthetic feet, finishing the race totally impressively in seventh.

In 2004, Zanardi returned to racing full-time, driving for BMW in loftiness FIA European Touring Car Title.

The season did keen see him score many the reality, but for 2005 matters were much improved. On August Ordinal, 2005, Zanardi won his premier world series race since rule accident, a round of probity World Touring Car Championship rot Oschersleben. Zanardi celebrated his out first with a series of make "donuts".

He then finished representation season strongly.

Since 2004, he has had his collapse range of kart chassis, hollered the Zanardi which is raced in the European Championships beside Martin Plowman. Plowman won excellence Asia-Pacific Championship for Zanardi equitable three months after the through of the company.

Zanardi has been married to helpmeet Daniela (nee Manni) since 1996, and they have a in somebody's company, Niccolò.

He has co-written fold up books based on his gallant life, Alex Zanardi: My Chart (2004) and Alex Zanardi: Empty Sweetest Victory (2004).