Team WRT will honour the late Alex Zanardi with a special tribute livery on its #32 BMW M4 LMGT3 Evo during the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season-ending 6 Hours of Monza. Augusto Farfus, who shared a close friendship and racing history with Zanardi, proposed the tribute after learning that the championship would conclude its season in Italy.
Vanuf Art Design created the distinctive livery, which features Zanardi’s face alongside an illustration of his handcycle, celebrating his achievements in motorsport and Paralympic competition. The design also incorporates colourful stripes and a message of gratitude to the Italian, who passed away on 1 May 2026 at the age of 59.
Farfus will share the BMW with Darren Leung and Sean Gelael as the trio seeks its second LMGT3 victory of the season, having secured a dramatic win at Fuji in September.
A tribute to longtime friend and former teammate
Farfus developed the idea for the tribute after learning that the FIA WEC would return to Monza for its season finale. The Brazilian previously raced alongside Zanardi in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) and reunited with him at the 2019 Rolex 24 at Daytona, establishing a connection that extended beyond their time as teammates.
Leung explained that Farfus initiated the project, encouraging the team to create a design celebrating Zanardi’s achievements and lasting influence on motorsport.
“Augusto came up with the idea when we heard that we were going to race in Monza to do a tribute to Alex,” Leung explained.
Although Leung initially knew relatively little about Zanardi’s career, conversations with Farfus encouraged him to learn more about the Italian’s achievements. He subsequently explored documentaries and other accounts of Zanardi’s experiences, developing a greater appreciation for his determination.
“I confess I didn’t know too much about his background, but when we had that conversation, I went away and watched some documentaries and kind of got to know the guy a little bit through the lens of a journalistic viewpoint.”
The research allowed Leung to understand why Zanardi continued to inspire so many people, particularly those who knew him personally throughout his racing career.
Leung reflects on Zanardi’s resilience and determination
Zanardi’s career included two CART championships in 1997 and 1998 before a devastating accident at the Lausitzring in September 2001 resulted in the amputation of both legs. However, the Italian subsequently returned to competitive motorsport with BMW, securing victories in touring cars and continuing to participate in major endurance events.
Alongside his return to racing, Zanardi established an extraordinary career in handcycling, winning four Paralympic gold medals across London 2012 and Rio 2016. His achievements demonstrated the resilience that Leung came to admire while learning about his experiences.
“He was just such an inspirational guy, an inspirational story. Obviously, he went through a huge moment in his life and it just never really seemed to cause him to skip a beat.”
Leung also highlighted the determination Zanardi demonstrated throughout his career, particularly his ability to confront considerable challenges while continuing to pursue his sporting ambitions.
“That kind of resilience and determination is very formidable and was quite inspirational, really. It was a story that I found quite moving.”
Speaking with people who knew Zanardi further strengthened Leung’s appreciation of his character, making the opportunity to contribute to the tribute particularly meaningful.
“Speaking to people who actually knew Alex very well personally, that kind of all extended through to all those people. It was a great pleasure to come up with an idea for the livery.”
Farfus recalls inspiration behind special Monza livery
Farfus also reflected on how the idea developed, explaining that he had immediately considered honouring Zanardi when discussions began surrounding Monza’s inclusion on the WEC calendar.
The Brazilian approached Leung with the proposal, believing that the Italian circuit would provide a fitting setting for a tribute to his former teammate and friend.
“When the whole story of WEC coming to Monza was kind of in the air, I said to Darren, ‘If it happens, let’s do a Zanardi car. That would be cool.’”
“And then eventually it happened, so we did.”
For Farfus, the tribute carries particular significance because of Zanardi’s influence on his fellow competitors. He praised the Italian’s determination both as an athlete and as an individual, highlighting the qualities that made him an important figure within motorsport.
“Alex was one of a kind, in all aspects as a fighter, as an inspiration, and as an athlete, driver, and so on.”
The opportunity to honour Zanardi in front of his home crowd also adds emotional significance to the weekend, particularly as Monza welcomes the championship for its final race of the season.
“So, having the possibility to just pay attributes for him here in Monza, I think he would have been, and I’m sure he’s very proud of what we have done.”
Farfus hopes tribute will inspire fans at Monza
Although Team WRT will carry a particularly meaningful livery, Farfus insisted that the tribute would not change the crew’s approach to Sunday’s race. Instead, he emphasised that the team already approaches every event with the determination to achieve the strongest possible result.
When asked whether the special design would encourage him, Leung and Gelael to fight even harder for a second WEC victory, Farfus offered a straightforward response.
“We always fight hard.”
The Brazilian subsequently connected that determination to Zanardi’s own approach to racing, describing his former teammate as an example of the fighting spirit that competitors should continue to recognise.
“We always give our maximum. But I think if there was a fighter in motorsport, he was definitely the fighter.”
Farfus also expressed his hope that the tribute would resonate with the Italian spectators attending the Monza finale, particularly those who followed Zanardi’s achievements throughout his career.
“So, I’m very pleased with that. And I think we just should remember those who inspire a lot of people. And I think here the Italians will be very pleased and happy to see this car around.”
The tribute therefore extends beyond the drivers and team, offering an opportunity for the wider motorsport community to recognise Zanardi’s legacy.
Leung hopes to incorporate Zanardi’s famous pineapple symbol
Beyond the tribute livery itself, Leung hopes to incorporate another detail associated with Zanardi’s racing career. The British driver revealed that he has been attempting to arrange pineapple stickers for the helmets of the #32 crew during the Monza weekend.
The pineapple became an important symbol during Zanardi’s CART career, when Chip Ganassi and engineer Mo Nunn associated the fruit with his particularly determined approach to competition.
Leung explained that the nickname originated during a disagreement over the car’s setup ahead of a race.
“The story of the pineapple is actually quite interesting,” he said. “Basically, he was having an argument with his team about needing to change all the gear ratios at like 10:30 p.m. before a race.”
According to Leung, Zanardi’s insistence on making the changes prompted someone within the team to describe him as stubborn, using the pineapple as a light-hearted reference to his determination.
“And then one of the guys said that he had a pineapple head, which was like slang for saying, you’ve just been really hard headed about it, you’ve been too driven and too determined.”
However, the adjustments ultimately proved successful, transforming the nickname into a lasting reminder of Zanardi’s determination and confidence in his own judgement.
Pineapple symbol reflects shared determination among WRT drivers
Leung continued by explaining that the team eventually followed Zanardi’s recommendations, with the changes contributing to a race victory.
“So they did the change that Alex pushed for, and they won the race in the end with it.”
The success subsequently inspired a small addition to Zanardi’s helmet, which became closely associated with him throughout his racing career.
“The engineer just drew a pineapple on the back of his helmet, and that’s the thing that always followed him through.”
For Leung, the story carries particular meaning because it reflects qualities he recognises within the current Team WRT driver line-up. He believes that Farfus, Gelael and himself share a similar determination to pursue their objectives, making the symbol an appropriate addition to the tribute.
“I quite like that as a symbol. There’s quite a few of us, myself, Augusto, and Sean, we’re quite determined people, and actually, it was just quite a nice story to find out.”
Although Leung has yet to confirm whether the stickers will appear on the drivers’ helmets, the idea would introduce another personal element to the team’s celebration of Zanardi’s life.
Team WRT targets second LMGT3 victory to conclude 2026 season
The tribute comes as Team WRT prepares for the final race of the 2026 FIA WEC season, with the #32 crew hoping to repeat its success from the 6 Hours of Fuji.
Farfus, Leung and Gelael secured their maiden victory of the campaign in Japan after a challenging race featuring multiple Safety Car interruptions and strategic complications. Farfus ultimately produced a remarkable final stint, charging from sixth to first before resisting pressure from Heart of Racing’s Mattia Drudi.
The trio subsequently reflected on its long-awaited Fuji breakthrough, which provided an important reward following a difficult season for the BMW crew.
Their victory also demonstrated the determination that Farfus associates with Zanardi’s legacy. Although the Brazilian insisted that the tribute would not change the team’s approach to racing, another strong performance at Monza would provide a fitting conclusion to the weekend.
The 2026 WEC Monza season finale will take place on Sunday, 8 November, with the six-hour race scheduled to begin at 11:00 local time.
For Team WRT, however, the weekend represents more than an opportunity to secure another LMGT3 victory. The special livery will celebrate Zanardi’s achievements and the influence he continues to have on the drivers who competed alongside him, providing a tribute to one of motorsport’s most respected figures at his home circuit.
