The 45-year-old double-leg amputee (pictured top), who lost his limbs in an horrendous motor-racing accident in 2001 that almost killed him, took up handbiking as part of his rehabilitation programme.

Zanardi quickly began to race seriously and the Italian – who made 41 Grand Prix starts for Jordan, Minardi, Lotus and Williams (pictured bottom) – was selected to represents the Italian team at the London Games earlier this year.

It was announced afterwards that, fittingly, the Paralympic handcycling competition would take place at the internationally renowned Brands Hatch motor-racing circuit in Kent – where Zanardi has raced several times in a car.

However, he benefited from the opportunity to try out his handbike during a Paralympics test event at the track in June (pictured below), and admitted that he feels he could be a serious contender.

"The course couldn't be better – it's fantastic," said Zanardi, a double CART indycar champion in the United States who, after recovering from his accident, raced for BMW in the World Touring Car Championship.


"The last part is the most difficult – in terms of personal pleasure and doing things right it is probably not the easiest area, but when you reach the penultimate climb going to the hairpin you are already very tired.

"But you know that if you are more or less close enough in terms of time to your opponents, this is the area where you are either going to win or lose the race.

"You've really got to be able to make the difference in the last two climbs – and if I can do that I can win a medal."

Zanardi conceded, however, that he will not have a huge advantage over his rivals, despite knowing the track well, because he says it is far different racing it on a handbike compared to a race-car.

"Knowing the circuit better than anybody else I thought I would know where to negotiate braking points, where to slow down and take the right lines," he said.


"But in reality the course is so wide that you never even cuddle the brakes other than [in] the first corner that goes onto the outside section.

"Technically speaking I think it really suits my best talents but you've got to be powerful, you've got to be able to resist the distance of the time trial; you also have to be smart because there are some areas where if you just keep pushing you're not going to reach the line in the best way.

"I think I've done it 95 per cent right in the simulation I've done, but everything is perfectible so I will try to sort it out with my trainer and come back stronger in September.

"You always have to come up with something that you always doubt you have until the last minute and that's why you're so happy when you cross the line in front of everybody else.

"Luckily for me it is something that I experienced in my racing career as a driver and hopefully it is something that I will experience here in September."

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