Zachary Claman DeMelo

{{Infobox racing driver

| name = Zachary Claman DeMelo

| image = Driver photo (40652596030) (cropped).jpg

| imagesize = 150px

| caption = DeMelo at the 2018 Indianapolis 500.

| nationality = {{flagicon|Canada}} Canadian

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1998|4|20}}

| birth_place = Montreal, Quebec, Canada

| racing licence = 12px FIA Silver

| current series = Indy Lights

| first year = 2016

| current team =

| car number =

| former teams = Juncos Racing

Carlin Motorsport
Belardi Auto Racing

| starts = 38

| wins = 2

| poles = 1

| fastest laps = 6

| best finish = 5th

| year = 2017

| prev series = IndyCar Series
MotorSport Vision Formula Three Cup
Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup

| prev series years = 2017-2018
2015
2014

}}

Zachary Claman DeMelo (born April 20, 1998) is a Canadian professional race car driver from Montreal, Quebec. He has competed in Formula Renault 2.0, the IndyCar Series and other open-wheel series, most recently competing for Belardi Auto Racing in Indy Lights in 2019.

Racing career

=Karting and lower formula=

Claman DeMelo began competing in various regional and national karting events in 2008. In 2010, at the age of 12, he clinched his first Canadian National Karting Championship as well as his first Eastern Canadian Karting Championship. By the age of 16, he had won 3 Canadian National Karting Championships, 5 consecutive Eastern Canadian National Championships, and earned a 3rd-place finish at the Rotax Karting World Championships.Schindel, Cody. [http://canadiankartingnews.com/rmcgf-team-canada-driver-preview-zachary-claman-demelo/ RMCGF Team Canada Driver Preview: Zachary Claman DeMelo], Canadian Karting News, November 9, 2014, Retrieved 2015-12-15 Claman DeMelo made his car racing debut in the 2014–15 Formula Skip Barber winter series, where he won two of the four races.

In 2015, Claman DeMelo moved to Europe and participated in a handful of races in several Formula Renault 2.0 series, including Formula Renault 2.0 NEC, Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup, and Formula Renault 2.0 Alps. From there, he moved on to the Invitational class of the MSV F3 Cup, where he claimed a win in all 8 races he drove in.{{cite web|url=http://www.infinitysportsmanagement.co.uk/news/item/65/page/11/|title=DeMelo takes the clean sweep|date=18 August 2015|website=infinity management|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225134326/http://www.infinitysportsmanagement.co.uk/news/item/65/page/11/|archive-date=25 February 2017}}

=Indy Lights=

In 2016, he entered Indy Lights as the youngest driver on the grid (at 17 years old) with defending championship team Juncos Racing.{{cite news|url=http://www.juncosracing.com/canadian-zachary-claman-demelo-joins-juncos-racing-for-2016-indy-lights-campaign/|title=Canadian Zachary Claman DeMelo joins Juncos Racing for 2016 Indy Lights campaign|work=Juncos Racing|date=December 15, 2015|access-date=December 15, 2015}} In his rookie campaign, Claman DeMelo put up 9 finishes in the top 10 and 3 finishes in the top 5.{{cite web|url=http://www.popularspeed.com/2016-indy-lights-series-year-in-review-zachary-claman-de-melo/|title=2016 Indy Lights Series Year in Review: Zachary Claman De Melo – POPULAR SPEED|work=popularspeed.com|access-date=26 February 2017}} In 2017, Claman DeMelo raced for the 2016 defending championship team, Carlin Motorsport.{{cite web|url=http://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2017/02/06/carlin-adds-claman-de-melo-to-indy-lights-lineup/|title=Carlin adds Claman De Melo to Indy Lights lineup|date=February 6, 2017|website=NBC sports}} He captured his first series win at Road America and captured a pair of podium finishes in Toronto. He finished fifth in points, just four points behind teammate Matheus Leist in fourth.

Unable to secure a full-time ride in the NTT IndyCar Series, Claman DeMelo chose to return to Indy Lights for the 2019 season, this time with Belardi Auto Racing.{{cite web|url=https://motorsports.nbcsports.com/2018/12/11/zachary-claman-demelo-will-return-to-race-full-time-in-indy-lights-in-2019/|title=Zachary Claman Demelo will return to race full-time in Indy Lights in 2019|date=December 11, 2018|website=NBC sports}} After winning the season-opening round at St. Petersburg, the season went south for the team, and budget issues ended Claman DeMelo's season before the Freedom 100.{{cite web |last1=Wood |first1=Elliot |title=Zachary Claman DeMelo to miss rest of Indy Lights season |url=http://www.formulascout.com/zachary-claman-demelo-to-miss-rest-of-indy-lights-season/50747 |website=Formula Scout |date=20 May 2019 |access-date=25 May 2019}}

Image:Zachary claman de melo (41737879304).jpg at the 2018 Indianapolis 500]]

=IndyCar Series=

In July 2016, Claman DeMelo participated in an IndyCar Series test with Schmidt Peterson Motorsports.{{cite web|url=http://www.indycar.com/News/2016/07/07-22-SPM-test-at-Mid-Ohio|title=Schmidt Peterson Duo Experience It All at Mid-Ohio Test|last=Barnes|first=Joey|website=Indycar.com|date=July 22, 2016|access-date=September 2, 2017}} He made his IndyCar debut in the 2017 season finale at Sonoma Raceway with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.{{cite web|title=Claman DeMelo to race for RLLR at Sonoma|url=http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/143889-claman-demelo-to-race-for-rllr-at-sonoma|date=September 6, 2017|access-date=September 6, 2017|website=Racer.com|publisher=Racer Media & Marketing, Inc.|archive-date=September 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906222300/http://www.racer.com/indycar/item/143889-claman-demelo-to-race-for-rllr-at-sonoma|url-status=dead}}

In February 2018, Claman DeMelo was named a part-time driver of the No. 19 Paysafe Honda for Dale Coyne Racing in the 2018 IndyCar Series.{{cite web |url=https://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/de-melo-confirmed-at-coyne-with-paysafe-sponsorship-1002966/ |title=De Melo confirmed at Coyne with Paysafe sponsorship |last=Malsher |first=David |publisher=Motorsport.com |date=2018-02-07 |access-date=2018-02-18 }}

Personal life

One of Claman DeMelo's grandmothers spent time in a Nazi concentration camp. She was freed on a Friday the 13th, and the tattoo numbers added up to 13. He has used number 13 on his racecars during most of his career.[http://www.indycar.com/News/2017/09/09-16-Sonoma-early-notebook Sonoma notes: No. 13 carries special meaning for Claman DeMelo] - IndyCar Series, 16 September 2017

In 2016, Claman DeMelo and his sister launched a shoe brand called ZCD Montreal.

In 2023, Claman DeMelo was assaulted by ice hockey player Daniel Sprong at a nightclub during the Detroit Grand Prix weekend.{{cite news|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10085822-nhls-daniel-sprong-accused-of-assaulting-former-indycar-driver-zach-claman-demelo|title=NHL's Daniel Sprong Accused of Assaulting Former IndyCar Driver Zach Claman Demelo|publisher=Bleacher Report|date=12 August 2023}}

Racing record

=Complete Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 results=

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"

! Year

! Entrant

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! DC

! Points

2015

!nowrap|Fortec Motorsports

| style="background:#cfcfff;" | ALC
1
{{small|24}}

| style="background:#efcfff;" | ALC
2
{{small|Ret}}

| style="background:#cfcfff;" | ALC
3
{{small|18}}

| style="background:#;" | SPA
1
{{small

}

| style="background:#;" | SPA
2
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | HUN
1
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | HUN
2
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | SIL
1
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | SIL
2
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | SIL
3
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | NÜR
1
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | NÜR
2
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | LMS
1
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | LMS
2
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | JER
1
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | JER
2
{{small|}}

| style="background:#;" | JER
3
{{small|}}

! NC†

! 0

† As DeMelo was a guest driver, he was ineligible for points

=Complete Formula Renault 2.0 NEC results=

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"

! Year

! Entrant

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! DC

! Points

2015

!nowrap| Fortec Motorsports

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" | MNZ
1
{{small|11}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" | MNZ
2
{{small|12}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" | SIL
1
{{small|20}}

| style="background:#DFFFDF;" | SIL
2
{{small|19}}

| RBR
1

| RBR
2

| RBR
3

| SPA
1

| SPA
2

| ASS
1

| ASS
2

| NÜR
1

| NÜR
2

| HOC
1

| HOC
2

| HOC
3

! 30th

! 22

=American open-wheel racing results=

==Indy Lights==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"

! Year

! Team

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! 18

! Rank

! Points

2016

! nowrap| Juncos Racing

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| STP
11

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| STP
16

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| PHX
11

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ALA
5

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| ALA
7

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IMS
13

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| IMS
14

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| INDY
13

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RDA
5

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| RDA
4

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| IOW
8

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TOR
13

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| MDO
7

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| WGL
9

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| LAG
12

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| LAG
7

!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 9th

!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 199

2017

! Carlin

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| STP
8

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| STP
7

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| ALA
5

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ALA
14

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| IMS
2

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IMS
11

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| INDY
6

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| RDA
10

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| RDA
1

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| IOW
6

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| TOR
2

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| TOR
3

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MDO
5

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| MDO
4

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| GMP
6

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| WGL
6

!style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 5th

!style="background:#DFFFDF;"| 274

2019

! nowrap| Belardi Auto Racing

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| STP
{{small|1}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| STP
{{small|2}}

|style="background:#CFEAFF;"| COA
{{small|7}}

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| COA
{{small|10}}

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| IMS
{{small|5}}

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| IMS
{{small|2}}

| INDY

| RDA

| TOR

| MDO

| GTW

| POR

| LAG

!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 10th

!style="background:#CFEAFF;"| 124

==IndyCar Series==

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"

! Year

! Team

! Chassis

! No.

! Engine

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! 9

! 10

! 11

! 12

! 13

! 14

! 15

! 16

! 17

! Rank

! Points

! Ref

2017

! nowrap| Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

! rowspan=2 nowrap| Dallara DW12

! 13

! rowspan=2| Honda

| STP

| LBH

| ALA

| PHX

| IMS

| INDY

| DET

| TXS

| ROA

| IOW

| TOR

| MDO

| POC

| GTW

| WGL

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SNM
17

!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 31st

!style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 26

!{{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/driver-season-stats/demelza01/2017/O/|title=Zachary Clamen DeMelo – 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=August 1, 2023}}

2018

! nowrap| Dale Coyne Racing

! 19

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| STP
17

| PHX

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| LBH
23

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ALA
19

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IMS
12

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| INDY
19

| DET

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TXS
17

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ROA
21

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IOW
18

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| TOR
14

| MDO

| POC

| GTW

| POR

| SNM

! style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 23rd

! style="background:#CFCFFF;"| 122

! {{cite web|url=https://www.racing-reference.info/driver-season-stats/demelza01/2018/O/|title=Zachary Clamen DeMelo – 2018 Verizon IndyCar Series Results|work=Racing-Reference|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC|access-date=August 1, 2023}}

* Season still in progress.

==Indianapolis 500==

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
Year ! Chassis ! Engine ! Start ! Finish ! Team
2018 \| Dallara \| Honda \| style="text-align:center;\| 13 \| style="text-align:center; background:#CFCFFF;"\| 19 \| nowrap\| Dale Coyne Racing

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"

Year

! Chassis

! Engine

! Start

! Finish

! Team

2018

| Dallara

| Honda

| style="text-align:center;| 13

| style="text-align:center; background:#CFCFFF;"| 19