When Alessandro Zanardi arrived at the “Autodromo Internacional do Algarve” near Portimão (PT) today, BMW Motorsport and ROAL Motorsport welcomed him with a big surprise: a special golden livery for his BMW Z4 GT3. With this present, they were referring to the successes Zanardi celebrated with his hand-bike last weekend at the 2014 UCI Paracycling World Championships at Greenville (US). The BMW works driver won two world-titles (time trial and team relay) and one silver medal (road-race).
The livery features a gold-coloured bonnet and roof, stylised pictures of Zanardi riding his hand-cycle on the doors and his medal winning times. The Italian will race his BMW Z4 GT3 with this livery this weekend (5th to 7th September), when he contests the fifth round of the 2014 Blancpain Sprint Series at the Portimã circuit.
“I am really touched that all the boys and BMW Motorsport in Munich did this for me. I am speechless, which is definitely unusual for Alex Zanardi. I am so impressed because this is such a great gesture. Now I cannot wait to jump into my BMW Z4 GT3 tomorrow,” Zanardi said after the team had presented him the specially livered car, adding with a twinkle in his eye: “But it could be that I drive very carefully this weekend because I don’t want to damage this beautiful baby.”
