Motorsport Subjects that would make Awesome Films: Alex Zanardi

As I write this article in the middle of February we are right in the middle of awards season for the film industry, with the Oscars themselves taking place on the 22nd of February, the same day of course as the Daytona 500, making it somewhat apt for this motoring and television based blog. Whilst I am somebody who does have more time for the Academy then the some more skeptical and invertedly snobbish peers of mine I am the first to recognise a particular character type that comes to the forefront in the best actor and actress category, for the males it comes in the form of an actor portraying an eccentric, pioneering and/ or heroic figure who had to face extreme adversary to succeed in his field against the odds, often with a tragic underside he has to balance. Whereas for the women it is essentially any role played by Meryl Streep.Baring this in mind it made me think of the sort of figures that would prove ideal for this kind of Oscar bait role, and arguably anybody who chooses to risk their lives at 200 miles an hour would have to be considered a hero, but a story like that needs for the adversity a driver to face to be unlike anything the sport has seen, and in my eyes the story of Alex Zanardi is one that would be incredibly difficult to top.

Prior to 2001 the perception of Alex Zanardi as a racing driver was heavily divided depending on which side of the Atlantic you were on. To most Europeans Zanardi was seen largely as an underwhelming journeyman who failed to showcase his potential across two disappointing spells in Formula One, whereas in America Zanardi was lauded as one of the best in the business, a driver who walked the fine tightrope between bravery and recklessness and with a Latin charisma that was wholeheartedly embraced by the showbiz conscious American media and fan base.Zanardi was one of the CART series' biggest fan favourites, which made his crash at the 2001 German 500 at the Lausitzring all the more shocking to view, leading the race with 13 laps to go Zanardi spun whilst exiting the pit lane following his final pit stop of the race, spinning up onto the track itself and straight into the path of an oncoming Alex Tagliani. The horrifying impact saw Zanardi lose both of his legs and if not for the quick work of the track's medics very nearly his life.

Such an incident would prove difficult to overcome for any person, but for a racing driver whose entire lifestyle is based around high adrenaline and physical performance the impact would be even more profound, and would surely end any kind of further career in the sport. That was the thinking however until Alex Zanardi came along, showcasing a drive, desire and willingness to overcome adversary which has seen him emerge as one of the sport's most beloved figures. In a third of the time it took a normal amputee patient Zanardi had learned to walk again, and just two years later against the wishes of doctors and industry experts returned to competitive motor sport in the European Touring Car Championship, defying critics by not only competing but regularly challenging for victories before retiring in 2006. His greatest achievements however would be yet to come, where still feeling the competitive bug Zanardi turned his attention to hand-cycling where at the age of 45, well above the average for most competitive cyclists he won a gold medal at the London 2012 games, the ceremony taking place aptly at the Brands Hatch Circuit he graced so wonderfully as a driver.

Alex Zanardi's story is one of inspiration, drive, desire and an unwillingness to give in regardless of the obstacles in your way, and in the hands of a strong actor would prove to be the awe-inspiring role which would showcase to the casual fan just why racing drivers are such heroic figures.