Grapevine: Zanardi gets green light for F1 test

The Italian driver, who lost both his legs in a Champ Car accident in 2001, will test a modified Grand Prix car during the Formula BMW World Final at the Valencia circuit on the last weekend of November.

"First of all I would like to say thank you to BMW for this opportunity," said Zanardi. "That's just amazing for me. Of course, I know that I won't get a contract with the Formula One team. However, having the chance to drive an F1 racer again is just incredible.

"Formula One is all about development speed. Therefore, I'm really excited to see what has changed since my last Grand Prix in 1999. I can call myself a very happy man, as I turned my passion into my profession. Despite having been a race driver for quite a while now, I still feel the fire burning in me.

"Formula One is - and will always be - the pinnacle of motor racing. I can hardly wait for the moment, when the V8 engine is started."

Zanardi last drove a Formula One car in 1999. He currently competes in the WTCC championship.

"Alessandro Zanardi is a truly impressive character," said BMW motorsport boss Mario Theissen. "With an unprecedented show of will and dedication, he fought his way back into motor racing and now proves 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, the engineers made it possible. I cannot wait to watch his reaction after the test."         

Zanardi will conduct his Formula One run in a modified F1.06. The car will feature a special brake pedal, which has been moved to the right side of the cockpit.

To accelerate the car, Zanardi will use the shifting paddle on the left rear side of the steering wheel.