MUNICH, Germany -- Alex Zanardi will return to Formula One next month in a test drive with BMW Sauber after losing his legs in a horrific crash five years ago.
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Zanardi drove 41 races in Formula One, the last in 1999 with Williams. Despite twice winning the CART season tittle, his best finish in an F-1 race was sixth place. He will drive the modified BMW-Sauber on Nov. 24-26 in Valencia, Spain.
"Of course, I know that I won't get a contract with the Formula One team," the 40-year-old Zanardi said. "However, having the chance to drive an F1 racer again is just incredible."
He has been driving for BMW in the World Touring Car Championship, winning twice.
Zanardi became a double amputee after his 2001 crash in Klettwitz during the American Memorial 500, a CART race.
"With an unprecedented show of will and dedication, he fought his way back into motor racing and now proves in the WTCC that is able to win races at the highest level," BMW Motorsports director Mario Theissen said.
"It was rather a joke when he asked me at the beginning of the year if he could do an F-1 test with us," Theissen added. "We will give him this chance now. The engineers made it possible. I cannot wait to watch his reaction after the test."
Zanardi returned to the German track 3 1/2 years ago and drove 13 "ceremonial laps" in a modified car, reaching speeds of 195 mph before a CART race.
