Alex Zanardi: a champion born for the third time.

Alex's story moved the whole world: karting enthusiast since he was a child, in 1988, at the age of 22, he moved on to Italian Formula 3 and then, three years later, to Formula 3000 where he nearly won the world title. His driving skills immediately attracted the attention of several Formula 1 teams and in particular Jordan who called him to replace Michael Schumacher who was about to switch to Benetton.

In the following years he ran for Tyrrel, Briatore, Minardi and Lotus. In 1995, left without contracts with the highest category of motor racing, he returned to his old love: karting. After continuous success, in 1997 he graduated Formula Kart champion for the first time, then repeating the success the following year. In 1999 there was a brief interlude during which he returned to Formula 1 with Team Williams: the unsatisfactory results convinced him to leave not only the tournament but also the world of motorsport.

In 2001 he was hired by a team who convinced him to take part in the Champ Car championship. During a race in Germany, in September of that year, Alex lost control of the car, due to the wet surface, and was fully hit by Alex Tagliani's car. The frightening accident had very serious consequences: both legs were amputated and after 16 surgeries and 7 cardiac arrests, he miraculously managed to escape. Thus born for the second time, in 2002 he returned to the circuit where he was the protagonist of the frightening accident in a specially modified car.

In 2005 he returned to racing in the World Touring Championship, also managing to win the title of the Italian Superturism Championship. Parallel to his passion for motoring, Zanardi also began to participate in numerous events for disabled athletes, embarking on a new competitive career in hanbike. On board this technological jewel, Alex was able to conquer numerous trophies until 2019, the year of his official retirement from competitive activity. He then began a professional career as a commentator and television presenter in numerous sports broadcasts.

In 2020 the second very serious accident: on 19 June, during a charity relay race aboard his handbike, he had a frightening collision with a truck, on a highway in Tuscany. In conditions defined as "desperate" he remained in a pharmacological coma for a month and after three other operations, in November he was transferred to hospital in Padua where, only in January 2021 he regained consciousness: his third birth. From that moment on he remained in the hospital, constantly followed by a team of medical specialists and, of course, by his wife who is constantly beside him.

The rehabilitation process is certainly very long and complex but finally the good news that the whole world of enthusiasts expected has arrived: Alex is finally back home! A very long and complex path awaits him, where possible steps backwards are not excluded but what matters is that now and with his family, he no longer has to stay in bed but can move in a wheelchair. The great fighter is back with us and we can only wish him well to be able to get him back as soon as before. Come on Alex!