Meeting Alex Zanardi    

                  "What have YOU done today to make you feel proud?" Heather Small (2000)                    

Home
Up
My Background
The Accident
Events 2004
Andy Carpenter
My Thanks
Photo's & Reports
Alex Zanardi
Humour
Marshalling
Links
Guestbook
Contact Details
Website Awards

If you enjoyed this site, please click on logo above to register vote.

Visitors since 

4th March 2002

FastCounter by bCentral

On 27th June 2004, I got to fulfil another of my dreams when I finally managed to meet Alex, and his wife Daniela, when he was competing in the UK round of the European Touring Car Championship at Donington Park. We spent some 10-15 minutes together, and I was first struck by the modesty of the man. He clearly doesn't feel himself a superstar in overcoming disability, merely saying he's "doing the same things as everyone else, it's just I have lights and cameras following me everywhere!"

 

The article below is taken from the news items, as posted on the ETCC website the following day:-

 

 

NEWS [ 792 ] - 28 Jun 2004
ZANARDI MEETS AMPUTEE MARSHAL

On Sunday morning in Donington Park, during the autograph session, Alessandro Zanardi met Steve Tarrant, an amputee motorsport marshal. Four years ago, Steve lost his right leg when he was hit by a racing car during the 2000 Goodwood Festival of Speed; an accident that cost the lives of the driver, John Dawson-Damer, and another marshal, Andy Carpenter.

“He sent me a few messages right after my accident, which were both moving and encouraging. And when he contacted me again a few months ago, saying that he wished to meet me personally at Donington, I was very pleased,” Zanardi said.

“For me this was a great moment. Both Alex and I love our sport very much, and we are still participating despite what happened to us. Life’s going on, this is our passion and we’ve got to live it,” added Steve Tarrant, who runs a website.

My personal thanks go to

Ann Bradshaw (BMW UK PR), Fabio Ravaioli (FIA ETCC media delegate) and Bernie Cottrell (BRSCC Chairman)

for helping me make this happen.