Pastor Maldonado

Pastor Rafael Maldonado Motta, born on March 9, 1985, is a Venezuelan racing driver who competed in Formula One from 2011 to 2015. Maldonado's journey began in BMX bicycling, where he became a national sub-champion, igniting his passion for speed. He transitioned to karting at age 7, eventually moving to Europe to pursue his racing career. He honed his skills in various Formula Renault championships, culminating in a dominant victory in the Italian Formula Renault 2000 in 2004. This achievement earned him his first Formula One test with Minardi, making him the youngest Venezuelan to drive an F1 car.

Maldonado's career progressed through the GP2 Series, where he showcased his talent, ultimately winning the championship in 2010 with Rapax. This success paved the way for his Formula One debut with Williams in 2011. His most notable achievement in F1 was winning the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix, becoming the first and only Venezuelan to win an F1 race. He later joined Lotus F1 Team before becoming a test driver for Pirelli.

Beyond Formula One, Maldonado continued his racing career in the FIA World Endurance Championship, securing a third-place finish in the LMP2 class with DragonSpeed. He also achieved a significant victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2019 in the LMP2 category. Maldonado's career, spanning over 20 years, includes accomplishments such as the Italian Formula 2000 Championship in 2004, the GP2 World Championship in 2010, and recognition as the Best Latin American Driver by Fox Sports in 2010.