Mariano Zavala

Mariano Tomás Zavala Ramirez (Born March 2, 1983 in Barcelona, Anzoátegui, Venezuela) is a Venezuelan racing driver.

Racing Career
Zavala, with backing from Venezuelan state-owned oil company PDVSA, began his career in the Nippon Open Wheel Tour in 2007. He only scored 2 points in 2007, and quickly made enemies; NOWT alumna Kiriki Hetsuno once confronted Zavala after he wrecked her out of the lead while going a lap down at Suzuka. Zavala entered the Pacific Racing Championship in 2011, where he did not do much better until he scored a surprise podium in the PRC race at Mount Panorama in 2012.

Later on in 2012, Zavala announced his interest in stock car racing after he, in his own words, grew "bored in open-wheel cars". Xenos Development picked him up for an ARLA Elite Series ride before the race in Iowa, where he crashed out and finished 27th. However, his DNF was surprisingly not of his own doing.

Zavala's ARLA results were unremarkable until he finished second to Taylor Brillon twice in a row, but it must be noted that these results took place at the New York Autoring and Talladega Superspeedway, races that are notorious for being crapshoots.