Former F1 driver pursues Paralympic cycling dream

Former Formula 1 driver Alex Zanardi, who lost both legs in a car accident in 2001, intends to compete for a place on Italy's cycling team at the 2012 Paralympics in London.

Zanardi, 42, lost both legs in a crash while competing at a Champ Car race at the Lausitzring in Germany, but returned to racing in 2003. Since then, he has competed in the European and the World Touring Car Championship each season.

He also took up hand cycling and finished 14th in last week's individual time trial at the Para-Cycling Road World Championship in Bogogno, Italy, where he finished 4 minutes, 45 seconds behind Oz Sanchez of the US, who won gold at the Beijing Paralympics.

A 6,000 seat Velodrome will host the indoor Olympic and Paralympic Cycling events and construction, which began in March last year, is scheduled to finish in early 2011. The Velodrome will be part of the VeloPark which is being built in the north of the Olympic Park and will also include a BMX Cicuit.

For images, video and impressions of the completed venue visit http://www.london2012.com/venues/velopark.php.

The 2012 Paralympic Games takes place from August 29-September 9 and will feature 20 Paralympic sports in 21 venues, with 4,200 Paralympic athletes competing. Up to 1.5 million spectators are expected to attend the Paralympic events in London.