The double Champ Car champion turned Paralympic gold medalist, who lost both legs in a crash at Lausitz in 2001, was a race-winner for BMW's World Touring Car program before switching to handbike racing after the '09 season.

BMW motorsport chief Jens Marquardt is confident the DTM car can be effectively modified so that Zanardi can be the first amputee to try the series' machinery.

"We will obviously have to make a few modifications to the car," said Marquardt.

"A DTM car is considerably more complex than the BMW 320si WTCC, with which Alex won on four occasions for us in the FIA World Touring Car Championship. However, our engineers happily accepted this challenge.

"Alex once again made sporting history in London. He thrilled the fans with his appearance at the race in Hockenheim, and was there in person when we sensationally completed the clean sweep of the 2012 DTM titles. He is simply a fantastic person."