WTCC: Zanardi awarded Laureus comeback prize.

Two-time Champ Car champion Alex Zanardi has won another prestigious award for his amazing courage in returning to racing after losing both of his legs in an accident nearly four years ago.

The 38-year old Italian, now a regular in the World Touring Car Championship, was presented the Laureus World Comeback of the Year Award at the Laureus World Sports Awards after his return to competitive motor racing in last year's European Touring Car Championship won him nomination for the second year in a row. Last year's Award was won by World Cup skiing hero Hermann Maier, who returned to race-winning form despite suffering serious leg injuries in a road accident.

"I would like to pay special tribute to Alessandro Zanardi," said F1 and Champ Car winner, and Laureus World Sports Academy member, Emerson Fittipaldi at an emotional presentation, "To achieve what he has done and come back to racing is an awesome achievement. Physically, it has been challenging, but the mental pressures must have been enormous. I am full of admiration for his courage and his determination."

Zanardi, who won back-to-back Champ Car titles in 1997 and 1998, then moved to Formula One with the Williams team, returned to Champ Cars in 2001, only to end the season early with his tragic accident at EuroSpeedway. Two years later, the Italian returned to Lausitz oval, where he completed the final 13 laps of the 2001 event in a specially-prepared Champ Car that featured throttle controls that could be operated by hand. Zanardi averaged more than 194mph during his laps after having just one short practice session the day before.

He then returned full-time to motor racing in October 2003, where he finished seventh in the European Touring Car Championship race at Monza. Last year, he completed a full season in the championship, and has re-signed to contest the WTCC with BMW in 2005. He drives a specially adapted 320i in which the throttle is mounted on the upper part of the steering wheel, the brake pedal has been shaped to prevent the driver's artificial limb from losing the grip and the clutch is actuated through a button on the gear lever.

"Alessandro Zanardi is letting all the people in his condition know what they can do," commented Dr Claudio Costa, who has overseen the Italian's rehabilitation since the accident, "His example sends a message to humanity."