Alessandro Zanardi has been named as a new BMW Brand Ambassador ahead of the second round of the Blancpain Sprint Series at Brands Hatch this weekend (18 May).
Zanardi has been a member of the BMW family for many years, first racing for BMW just two years after a horrific ChampCar crash caused the Italian to lose both of his legs in 2001. Between 2005 and 2009 the Italian competed in more than 100 World Touring Car Championship races for BMW, racking up a total of four victories.
During his final season in the WTCC Zanardi began his second career in paracycling and started his journey towards the London 2012 Paralympic Games. The move was a major success for Zanardi, winning two gold medals and one silver medals at the 2012 Games, and he will return to the scene of his triumph when the Blancpain Sprint Series rolls in to Brands Hatch.
“I am very proud to become a BMW Brand Ambassador”, said Zanardi, who has become a role-model for many. “BMW is like a second family, and over the past years we not only enjoyed great times together at the track, but we have also become close friends. To return to racing as a BMW works driver this season is already great – and the fact that I will now represent this iconic company as an ambassador is just fantastic. The trust the BMW family puts in me means a lot to me. I am very much looking forward to representing this fantastic BMW brand all over the world from now on.”
As a brand ambassador, Zanardi will be on hand to personally represent the brand at various worldwide events as well as taking part in internal events with employees and management.
“We are delighted to welcome Alessandro as a brand ambassador into our BMW family”, added Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Sales and Marketing BMW, Ian Robertson. “For his fans all around the globe he is far more than a superb racing driver. With his fighting spirit and his positive attitude, Alessandro is a true role-model. He has shown that it is possible to overcome all adversities and barriers. He is a real champion on and off the race track – and therefore a perfect international ambassador for our brand.”
