Special thoughts go out today to one of motorsport's most emblematic figures, Alex Zanardi, born on this day in Bologna in 1966, and who sadly left us earlier this year back in May. 

Zanardi enjoyed 41 Grand Prix starts in his career between 1991 and 1999, but reached his peak in the US as a double CART IndyCar champion, in 1997 and 1998.

Tragically, his success in CART was cut short by a horrendous accident at the Lausitzring in 2001 in which he lost his legs.

But Zanardi, as brave and courageous as they came, surmounted the adversity to fight his way back behind the wheel of a racing car, supported by BMW in the WTCC and in endurance racing.

However, the best testimony to the Italian's exceptional fortitude, determination and heroism is his massive success in handbike racing, the Italian winning four gold medals at the 2012 and 2016 Paralympics.

In June 2020, Alex suffered a traumatic hand-cycling accident in Italy, which left him and his family with another massive battle to fight. Alas, it was one that he would ultimately lose.