Alex Zanardi went home from rehab yesterday, 18 months after suffering traumatic brain injuries in a cycling accident. He was training for a race in July, 2020, when his hand cycle hit a truck.

Zanardi will continue therapy and at home. He will still need top go to rehabilitation clinics at times.

Zanardi, 55, won the 1997 and 1998 CART championships, lost both of his legs in an accident at the CART race at Lausitzring in Germany in 2001. He then become a gold medalist in cycling at the paralympic games. He has returned to a race car. Zanardi drove in the 2018 Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Zanardi’s wife, Daniela, issued a public statement.

“An important step was that Alex was able to leave hospital a few weeks ago and is back at home with us now,” she said. “We had to wait very long for this and are very happy that it was possible now, even if there are still temporary stays in special clinics planned for the future to carry out special rehabilitation measures on site.”

“The recovery continues to be a long process,” said his wife. “The rehabilitation programme led by doctors, physiotherapists, neuropsychologists and speech therapists has enabled steady progress. Of course, setbacks are there and can still occur. Sometimes you also have to make two steps back in order to make one step forward. But Alex proves again and again that he is a real fighter.”

“It is a big help for him and us that we receive so much support on this way, not only from the doctors and therapists that intensively work with him,” she said.

“We are very grateful to everyone for that and for so much more because these strong ties give us additional energy. This also goes for the continued sympathy we receive from racing drivers, fans and acquaintances from all over the world. We would like to express a big ‘grazie’ to all who send their good thoughts and power to Alex.”