Successful first test for Alessandro Zanardi in the BMW M8 GTE

Last week, BMW M Motorsport and Zanardi spent three days testing at Miramas in the south of France. Although rain meant the conditions were not ideal, Zanardi was still able to get plenty of laps under his belt with the BMW M8 GTE. In total, he drove almost 700km over the course of the three days.

Zanardi used the test to familiarise himself with the BMW M8 GTE. At the same time, BMW M Motorsport was able to evaluate how the modifications, developed for his special needs, function in a GTE racing car. Zanardi uses the same system in the BMW M8 GTE that has already proven itself on his guest appearance in the BMW M4 DTM at Misano and has been adapted to the requirements in the BMW M8 GTE.

Braking is performed using a lever, which he operates with his right arm. The special steering wheel allows Zanardi to accelerate using a gas ring and to change gear using shift paddles. The gas mechanism at the steering wheel, proven in DTM, has been adapted to the much more complex steering wheel in the BMW M8 GTE. The brake lever also has a button, with which Zanardi can shift down through the gears when braking into corners. Based on the knowledge gained at Misano, the system has been optimised for the BMW M8 GTE.