Asian Motor Sports

ALESSANDRO ZANARDI TO DRIVE BMW SAUBER F1

Alessandro Zanardi will make his return to the cockpit of a Formula One car. On the occasion of the DELL Formula BMW World Final, at Valencia from 24th to 26th November, the 40-year-old Italian will hit the track at the wheel of a modified BMW Sauber F1.06. By driving for the BMW Sauber F1 Team, Zanardi will become the first person with amputated legs to test an F1 machine.

“First of all I would like to say thank you to BMW for this opportunity. It is just amazing for me. I know that I won’t get a contract with the F1 team, however, having the chance to drive an F1 car again is just incredible. I’m really excited to see what has changed since my last Grand Prix in 1999. I can hardly wait for the moment, when the V8 engine is started,” Zanardi commented.

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen said:

“Zanardi is a truly impressive character. With an unprecedented show of will and dedication, he fought his way back into motor racing and proved in the WTCC that he is able to win races at the highest level. It was rather a joke when he asked me at the beginning of the year, if he could do an F1 test with us. We will give him this chance now as the engineers made it possible.”

Zanardi will drive a BMW Sauber F1.06 that differs in many ways from the car that is used by the BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers. It features a special brake pedal, which has been moved to the right side of the cockpit. A conventional throttle is missing and to accelerate Zanardi will use the shifting paddle on the left rear side of the steering wheel, which has been modified for this purpose. The paddle travel was increased considerably, in order to allow the right throttle percentage and smooth acceleration.

FIRST TEST FOR COUTO IN THE SEAT LEÓN

Macau’s local hero André Couto had his first test in the SEAT León car that he will drive at his home race track during the FIA World Touring Car Championship final meeting on November 19. Couto joined the SEAT Sport team as they visited the Albacete track for a two-day test.

Couto spent an entire day in Albacete getting used to the car and adapting it to his racing style. He said: “The SEAT León is a great car. It’s very effective, but what impresses me the most is its tremendous balance”.

Gabriele Tarquini, who is currently fourth in the drivers’ championship, only four points off the lead, joined Couto on the track during the first day.

On the second day, Richard Rydell and Jordi Gené took over. The Swede is another title
contender as he currently lies fifth in the classification, two further points behind Tarquini.

MENU WINS BUENOS AIRES 200KM FOR CHEVROLET

Swiss Chevrolet WTCC driver, Alain Menu won the Buenos Aires 200 Kilometres last Sunday, the main race of the Argentine TC2000 Championship. Menu, who shared a Chevrolet Astra run by Elaión Racing with local driver Matías Rossi, took the wheel halfway through the race with a 14-second advantage and gradually extended his lead claiming a comfortable victory from the Ford Focus cars of Martín Basso-Hoover Orsi and Fabián Flaqué-Ernesto Bessone.

World Touring Car Championship, WTCC, Macau Grand Prix, Sports, Auto Racing, Motorsports, Full Throttle