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BMW unveils one-off M3 tribute to late racing driver Alex Zanardi
BMW Italy has unveiled a one-off M3 Competition honouring Alex Zanardi, marking what would have been his 60th birthday, with design details that reference his personal good-luck charm and BMW's motorsport heritage.
By George Kensington · 4 min read
BMW Italy has unveiled a one-off M3 Competition designed to honour Alex Zanardi, marking what would have been the racing driver's 60th birthday. Developed with Italian design studio BorromeoDeSilva, the M3 Tribute to Alex Zanardi is conceived as more than a personalised sports saloon. It is presented as a tribute to a man whose determination and optimism left a lasting mark on motorsport and beyond.
Zanardi would have turned 60 on 23 October 2026, but he died on 1 May 2026. The tribute car is based on the current M3 G80 Competition, and BMW Italy worked with several partners, including Alcantara and Befuel, to turn the design concept into a finished car. The exterior uses a special interpretation of the M division's racing colours, drawn from the liveries carried by BMW's competition cars over the years.
One detail carries particular significance: the pineapple. The fruit was Zanardi's personal good-luck charm, and BorromeoDeSilva has incorporated it into the graphics as a recognisable symbol of his positive outlook and his ability to face seemingly impossible challenges. Dynamic lines and coloured accents link the design to BMW M's motorsport heritage and to Zanardi's personal story.
The special treatment continues inside. The seats are trimmed in anthracite Alcantara with laser-perforated sections, and an iridescent backing creates a gradient effect inspired by BMW M's traditional blue, purple and red. The same design language runs through the door panels, and the overall cabin treatment pays homage to the iconic M3 E30 Sport Evolution. The unveiling also coincides with the 40th anniversary of the M3, adding a further layer of significance.
BMW Italy has also installed a permanent commemorative plaque at its House of BMW Italia headquarters, describing Zanardi as “the greatest role model we have ever had”. The relationship between Zanardi and the brand dates back more than two decades. After returning to racing in 2003 in the European Touring Car Championship with BMW Team Italy-Spain, he became an official BMW Motorsport driver in the FIA World Touring Car Championship between 2005 and 2009, scoring four overall victories, including a memorable win at Oschersleben in August 2005. He also appeared in the Blancpain Sprint Series, the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the DTM and the 24 Hours of Daytona, drove an M4 DTM at the 2018 DTM event, and raced the M8 GTE at Daytona in 2019.
Zanardi's achievements extended well beyond four wheels. Following the devastating 2001 Lausitzring accident that resulted in the amputation of both legs, he returned to competition and built an equally remarkable career in handcycling. He won four Paralympic gold medals at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Games, along with numerous world championship titles.
His commitment to helping others was equally important. Through the Bimbingamba Foundation he supported children with amputations, and his Obiettivo3 project helped people with disabilities gain access to sport. His influence also helped shape BMW Italy's SpecialMente corporate social responsibility programme, which promotes inclusion, education and support for vulnerable people. BMW's relationship with the Zanardi family continues through his son Niccolò, a SpecialMente ambassador and instructor at BMW Italy's Driving Experience school, who also works on courses for people with disabilities using a specially adapted M2.
BMW Italy CEO Sergio Solero said Zanardi represented much more than a racing driver or brand ambassador, embodying the ability to turn adversity into opportunity. The one-off M3, in that light, is a fitting tribute to a figure whose legacy extends well beyond trophies and lap times.
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