Zanardi To Race A BMW M8 In Rolex 24

By Joe Jennings
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Updated: January 6, 2019

BMW M8 to be piloted by Alex Zanardi and three others. [Joe Jennings Photo]

By Joe Jennings

DAYTONA BEACH – Alex Zanardi, the colorful racing star from the 1990s, will make his Rolex24 debut later this month driving a BMW M8 for BMW Team RLL. For the flashy Italian driver, the race will mark his first time to compete in the United States since losing his legs in a gruesome accident in a Champ Car race in Germany in 1991.

Alex Zanardi greeted by former car owner Chip Ganassi and former teammate Jimmy Vasser. [Joe Jennings Photo]

Never giving up, the two-time open-wheel champion has competed successfully in Europe, becoming one of the world’s top hand cyclists and has continued to race cars, competing with BMW in the World Touring Car Championship and the Blancpain GT Sprint Series. His team’s BMW M8 GTE features special hand controls.

When BMW officials inquired as to his interest in racing for them in a 24-hour race, they presumed he would pick the 24 Hours of LeMans but were surprised when he chose the Rolex 24.

“In life, it’s a question of opportunities, and I had this one, which is certainly one of the opportunities I would choose,” he said. “The Rolex 24 At Daytona has always been, the 24-hour race for me in my eyes. Being European, people would probably be used to believe that I would want to go to Le Mans, but in reality, I grew up as a race car driver here in America.

“I’ve always heard about this race many stories from many colleagues who were involved at some points with this great event. I always dreamed to be here. I’ve been around a long, long time and it’s almost like the time is right, before the last curtain came down, here I am involved with BMW with a works machine for RLL, and I’m very, very excited to be here.”

Alex Zanardi flashes his smile during a media session at Daytona. [Joe Jennings Photo]

For the Rolex24, Zanardi will team with Jesse Krohn, John Edwards and Chaz Mostert.

Flashing his friendly smile and outgoing personality, competitors, fans and officials greeted him warmly, a condition that warmed his heart he said.

Among those greeting him were former car owner Chip Ganassi and teammate Jimmy Vasser.

At age 52, Zanardi doesn’t think he has much time left to race but he said, “If you ask a racer whether he wants to race, it is like asking a cat whether he likes mice.”