GT: Zanardi to make motorsport return at Mugello

Alex Zanardi will return to motorsport for the first time in more than a year next month, after winning gold at the Rio Paralympics.

The two-time CART IndyCar champion won two handcycling gold medals and one silver in Brazil earlier this month, matching his tally from the London 2012 games. Zanardi will get back behind the wheel for the final round of the Italian GT Championship at Mugello on Oct. 14-16 – a week before his 50th birthday – in a BMW M6 GT3 run by ROAL Motorsport.

With his focus this year on the Paralympics, Zanardi's last motorsport outing was in July 2015, when he shared a BMW Z4 GT3 with Timo Glock and Bruno Spengler in the Spa 24 Hour.

"I always say that my life is a never ending privilege of being able to do so many things, and this season is a classic example," Zanardi said. "Preparing for Rio de Janeiro, approaching my 50th birthday, not only being able to run competitively, but winning what I won is exceptional.

"But on top of this, I will once more enjoy the privilege of indulging in my primary passion, being behind the wheel of a great racecar. Since I saw the beautiful BMW M6 GT3 in the workshop in Munich I have dreamt about driving it. And now BMW is granting me the possibility to do so on one of my favourite circuits, Mugello.

"I am very, very happy and I can't wait to grab the steering wheel and drive to the best of my abilities."

Originally on Autosport.com