Wednesday December 10th, 2003
Italian Alex Zanardi, who lost both his legs in a driving accident two years ago, is to race in the European Touring Car championship next season.
"It is 99 percent sure that in 2004 I will drive in the Touring Car championship with BMW Italia using a vehicle of the Ravaglia team," Zanardi told Gazzetta dello Sport at the Bologna Motor Show on Wednesday.
Zanardi raced in a BMW in the final race last season at Monza in Italy, finishing seventh in a specially adapted vehicle.
"It hasn't been easy because there wasn't a plan for this and it was practically born after my return at Monza. It has been done in a short space of time and a third car has been found for me," he said.
"We are almost ready and on Monday or Tuesday I should be testing in Valencia."
The Italian lost both his legs and two litres of blood in a high speed crash in a CART race at the Lausitzring in September, 2001. The 37-year-old Zanardi said he had turned down an offer to race in the Indianapolis 500.
"I really think that my career at that level is over," he said.
Published at 17:52:43 GMT