Zanardi to make racing return

Zanardi finished seventh at Monza in October

Alex Zanardi has confirmed he will race for BMW in the European Touring Car Championship next season.

The Italian lost both his legs when he was involved in a crash during a Cart series race in Germany two years ago.

But he returned to action in the final touring car race of the season at Monza in a specially modified BMW.

"I will be driving against aggressive opponents and I don't expect any favours," Zanardi told Italian newspaper Gazetta dello Sport.

Zanardi, who took part in testing in Valencia this week, said the chance to race in the touring car championship had come out of the blue.

"It hasn't been easy because there wasn't a plan for this and it was practically born after my return at Monza," he said.

"It has been done in a short space of time and a third car has been found for me.

Zanardi, 37, said he had turned down an offer from Honda to race in the Indianapolis 500.

"I really think that my career at that level is over," he said.