Highlights

Zanardi shrinks his feet to relive F1 thrills

(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-11-25 11:38

Alex Zanardi has a simple solution to the problem of squeezing into a tight-fitting Formula One car -- he puts on smaller feet.

"We couldn't improve the size of the tub (cockpit), so I said we can make my feet smaller. I'm the only driver on Earth who can do that," the Italian told Reuters in Valencia on Friday.

Zanardi, twice a CART champion and a former F1 driver with Jordan, Minardi, Lotus and Williams, had both legs amputated after nearly bleeding to death in a 320kph collision at Germany's Lausitzring in a CART race in September 2001.

He has since made a remarkable comeback in the world touring car championship with BMW and this weekend tests a modified version of their F1 car -- making him the first double amputee to drive such a machine.

There is no chance of the test being anything more than a demonstration, with BMW team boss Mario Theissen saying last month the idea had started off as something of a joke when Zanardi first raised it.

The 40-year-old completed a handful of installation laps at the circuit on Thursday and was typically ebullient about the experience.

"It was just a shakedown and not a proper test, tomorrow is going to be a proper test," he said. "There were some pressures to overcome but I'm not a kid any more.

"The dominant feeling is just...the joy, to be back in a super car," added Zanardi. "It was like being on a desert island and (supermodel) Naomi Campbell comes along. It's a pretty good sensation."

BMW have modified the controls of the car so that he can brake and accelerate by hand.

The other problem, of fitting in a car originally designed for diminutive German Nick Heidfeld and equally slimline Brazilian Felipe Massa in 2005, was easily rectified.

"I went from a 43 to a 36 size foot," he said.

Zanardi, who returned to the Lausitzring in a modified CART car in 2003 to complete the 'missing' 13 laps from the race that almost killed him, said his condition made it difficult nonetheless.

"Some of the turns I'm driving with one hand like you do with your road car," he said. "If I keep my right hand on the steering wheel, I can't use the throttle any more."

(Writing by Alan Baldwin in London)