“Massive shock”: DTM stars react to the death of Alessandro Zanardi

– The DTM paddock reacts in shock to the death of Alessandro Zanardi last Friday at the age of 59. The former IndyCar champion, Formula 1 driver, and Paralympic gold medalist never had a permanent DTM cockpit, but in 2018 he sensationally finished fifth as a guest driver with a specially prepared BMW in the night race at Misano and also started in 2019 at the joint Dream Race with the Super GT series in Fuji.

Read more McLaren MCL-HY: This is what the new LMDh car for the WEC 2027 looks like!

And he has been the great idol of two-time champion Marco Wittmann for many years. “I woke up – and reading this news is a huge shock for me,” writes the long-time BMW factory driver on Instagram. “Alex was my role model and an inspiration in every area of life. Thank you for letting me get to know you and race with you. Farewell, my friend.”

Wittmann drove at the IMSA weekend in Laguna Seca together with teammate Philipp Eng for Zanardi – and the duo made it to the podium in third place. They even had messages of greeting for the Italian on the BMW prototype and drove with black armbands.

“What the hell!?”: Why Zanardi was Wittmann’s idol

Wittmann was especially impressed by Zanardi’s attitude, who lost both legs in his crash at the Lausitzring in 2001 but fought his way back into the race car with iron will. “When you talk to him, he tells you: ‘This is actually the coolest thing that has ever happened to me. Because all the things I do now, I couldn’t have done with two legs,'” Wittmann said in 2019 ahead of the “Dream Race”.

Photo series: Alessandro Zanardi is dead: This is how the motorsport world reacts

Then you also think to yourself: ‘What the hell!?’ That’s how you have to think first. It’s simply amazing, and he should be a role model for everyone – whether with a handicap or without.”

Wittmann’s IMSA colleague Eng, who was also at Zanardi’s DTM guest start in Misano and raced with the Italian in the IMSA series, mourns Zanardi’s death as well. “This makes me deeply sad. Rest in peace, legend,” he writes on Instagram. “Thank you for everything I learned from you and for being such an inspiration. It was a privilege to know you and be your teammate.”

DTM champion Güven inspired by touring car world championship appearances

Numerous BMW drivers like Rene Rast or Sheldon van der Linde, but also former Munich drivers like Bruno Spengler or Timo Glock, who shared a car with Zanardi in 2015 at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, expressed their grief on social media.

Read more Three poles, three wins, and a meeting that makes the race special

And even drivers who are not part of the BMW environment are deeply touched by Alessandro Zanardi’s fate. “I remember seeing him as a child in the WTCC and how much he inspired me,” writes the current DTM champion Ayhancan Güven, who fought his way up without a motorsport environment in his own country. “Rest in peace, legend!”

While former DTM champion Mirko Bortolotti writes that “legends never die,” Zanardi was an “incredible person, racer, and an inspiration” for Mercedes-AMG factory driver and DTM leader Maro Engel. “My deepest condolences go to the Zanardi family and his friends.”

“Unimaginable grief” at Timo Scheider

And Timo Scheider, who became DTM champion twice in a row in 2011 and 2012 with Audi and Abt as one of the few drivers and later drove for BMW, is deeply affected by Zanardi’s death. “I received this news today with unimaginable grief,” he writes on Saturday.

“A true motorsport legend, a devoted family man, a role model and an inspiration for so many people around the world. His passion, his strength, and his legacy have touched countless lives and will never be forgotten.”

With Zanardi’s death, the world has “lost not only an icon but also a remarkable person. My thoughts are with his family, his friends, and all who admired him.”

Read more Kia EV9 GT (2026) in review: Colossus for (almost) all occasions