BMW works driver Alessandro Zanardi (IT) has completed his debut weekend in the BMW Z4 GT3. Today’s main race was the highlight of the curtain raiser for the 2014 Blancpain Sprint Series at Nogaro (FR). The 47-year-old put in a strong performance in this first main race of his comeback season. He was in the top ten for most of the race, despite the fact he could not change gears properly as there was an issue with the special clutch mechanism developed for him. He only dropped back on the final laps to finish 13th. After it had rained yesterday, conditions were dry today with even some sun.
In the qualifying race, Zanardi qualified 14th on the grid for today’s main race in his BMW Z4 GT3 entered by ROAL Motorsport. The 47-year-old had a strong start and improved to tenth on the opening lap. When the field had sorted itself out after the mandatory pit stops, Zanardi was running in 11th but, with a great overtaking manoeuvre, he fought his way back into the top ten. Despite the fact that he was struggling with the clutch issue, he held tenth position until the closing stages of the race, but then dropped back to 13th.
