Grapevine: Theissen intrigued by Zanardi F1 run

Zanardi will test a BMW-Sauber F1.06 car at the Formula BMW World Finals event at Valencia this weekend, marking the first time he will have driven a Grand Prix car since losing his legs in a Champ Car crash at the Lausitzring in 2001.

The F1.06 has been specially adapted for Zanardi, with the throttle operated by a lever on the steering wheel and the brake pedal being moved to the right hand side of the car.

And although Zanardi has shown impressive speed in the World Touring Car Championship over the past two seasons, Theissen has said it will be fascinating to see how the Italian performs in F1 machinery.

"Originally Alex came to me and said 'don't you want to know how fast the car really is?'" Theissen told autosport.com. "Then I said, okay let's try and it was not too difficult to adapt the car.

"But I don't know how he will be able to deal with it. It is quite difficult for him to get into the car, and we'll see if he is able to brake as hard as he can in the touring car. So there is a question mark behind it.

"But I wanted to give him the chance and he is quite excited about it. We are all excited about it. It will be a great event."

Zanardi himself has moved to downplay the significance of his test - especially because it is not the first time he has driven F1 machinery.

"I am looking forward to it, but I also have some mixed feelings," he told autosport.com. "These are words that may disappoint you, but you have to remember that I have already lived with F1 cars, and competed with them at the highest level.

"So it is not as if this is my first time in them. If it was then I am sure I would be feeling more excited right now. But saying that, it will still be an interesting experience for me."