Alex Zanardi: “I knew it was going to be special”

Social networks flourished with tributes and logical signs of affection for Alex Zanardi on the sidelines of the Roar before the Rolex 24 last week, a test session organized before the kick-off of the 2019 season of theIMSA, at the 24 Hours of Daytona, on January 26 and 27.

We were able to see the leading drivers of the Florida double clock tower, as Fernando Alonso, come to greet the Italian, both legs amputated after his terrible accident in 2001 in CART.

Looking forward to race with the legends @lxznr @rubarrichello ! I respect you a lot my friends!!  #racers #inspiration #respect #friends #daytona pic.twitter.com/zM8rg81tjl

- Fernando Alonso (@alo_oficial) January 4, 2019

“I knew of course it was going to be special, but honestly I didn't expect it to be this special, recounts the former two-time CART champion and ex-driver F1. For racing, it will probably be even more.

The fans' enthusiasm for the cars is already dizzying, but every time I passed by for any reason, I could detect an even more explosive spark of enthusiasm. People were genuinely happy to see me.

And everyone who had the opportunity to come and tell me something didn't hide it at all. They were very, very warm in their comments, encouraging and respectful at the same time. I am very, very touched by the support I received. »

Specific orders validated

Zanardi continued the preparation already started with BMW Motorsport and Team RLL, during a private test session at Daytona at the end of 2018, continuing the sessions with his teammates in the No. 8 BMW M24, John Edwards, Jesse Krohn and Chaz Mostert.

If the M8s have rarely reached the top of the GTLM timesheet, Zanardi considers himself ready to face the 24 Hours of Daytona, with adapted controls which seem to suit him perfectly.

“Physically, it’s incomparable, underlines the Transalpine. It's night and day compared to what I was doing before. So yes, it helps a lot more than expected. So yes, from that point of view, it’s a 100% success.

However, I think that to be able to negotiate everything well, certain actions that I have to do, I am still learning. And hopefully I can learn more, but I'll have 24 hours to go through my mental data and try to develop the right technique.

Jesse, Chaz and John are very, very talented drivers, very professional and it's fantastic and also very useful to be in such a team, because being in a team with these drivers is a huge advantage.

It's inevitable to feel pressure because I would really like to perform at their level, overcoming my personal problems, my age... It's a question of talent which allows them to know the car so well. I'll do my best but so far so good. I'm not that far behind, actually. »