Former racer and ultimate perseverer Alessandro ‘Alex’ Zanardi (59) passed away

The motorsport world has had to say goodbye to Alessandro ‘Alex’ Zanardi. The Italian passed away on Friday at the age of 59, his family announced – he died ‘suddenly, but peacefully’. Zanardi was a defining driver in motorsport during the 1990s, but above all a symbol of perseverance. After losing both legs in a crash in the American CART Series, he remained successful in both motorsport and handbiking.

Zanardi made a name for himself in the 1990s in Formula 1, where he raced for teams such as Jordan, Minardi, Lotus, and Williams. In total, he competed in 41 Grands Prix, but his greatest successes came in the American CART Series, where he was champion in 1997 and 1998 with Chip Ganassi Racing. His legendary overtaking move on Bryan Herta in the corkscrew at Laguna Seca in 1996 is still considered one of the most iconic moments in motorsport history.

Perseverer

However, his career took a dramatic turn in 2001, when he was involved in a serious accident during a race at the Lausitzring, resulting in the loss of both legs. While this would have meant the end of a career for many, it marked the beginning of a new chapter for Zanardi. After an intensive rehabilitation process, he returned to motorsport, won the Italian touring car title, and achieved success in the World Touring Car Championship. Even in 2018 and 2019, he appeared at the start of major events such as the DTM and the 24 Hours of Daytona.

Additionally, Zanardi became an icon in Paralympic sport. In handbiking, he won four gold medals at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, alongside multiple world titles. However, in 2020 he was again the victim of a serious accident, this time during a handbiking race on a public road, where he suffered severe head injuries. After a long medical battle, he eventually returned home but stayed out of the public eye.