The legendary karting division of Zanella Engines, a respected name in American motorsports, has been acquired by new ownership and relaunched as MR17 Racing Engines. This marks an exciting new era, grounded in the same spirit of quality, reliability, and performance that racers have trusted since 2012.
Building on Zanella’s proven engineering legacy in the U.S., MR17 Racing Engines introduces a renewed commitment to trackside support, customer service, and advanced engine development for national and regional karting teams across the USA and the Americas region.
At the core of MR17’s development process is Marco Romero, a renowned international-level karting driver whose on-track testing and feedback fuel the engineering and development team’s pursuit of race-winning performance. With years of experience at the top levels of USPKS, SKUSA, and ROK—multiple wins and championship pursuits—Marco brings a racer’s perspective to every engine.
“I’ve grown up around racing engines—it’s a lifelong passion,” says Marco Romero, the face of MR17. “Now, every time I test, I’m not just chasing my own results. I’m making sure our engines perform at the highest level, giving our customers the confidence that everything we build is proven where it counts—on the track, backed by our world-class technical team.”
“This acquisition marks a new chapter in business diversification for us. We already successfully operate Vara’s Racing Steak Truck & Catering at most national karting events in the USA, and expanding our business within the cherished karting community with a respected and top-level U.S. engine program just makes sense,” shares Enrique Romero, new owner of MR17 Racing Engines.
“With decades of industry experience and personal racing success with Zanella engines, our mission is to uphold Zanella’s tradition of precision and craftsmanship while growing our reach and service for racers nationwide and internationally. MR17 isn’t starting from scratch—it’s taking trusted expertise and market development to the next level.”
“I want to thank the Romero family for carrying on the development, legacy, and spirit of excellence of the Zanella Karting Engines program. Our long-standing effort and passion for karting will not only be preserved, but will keep evolving under their leadership,” says Jose (NAKA) Zanella, Team Principal of Zanella Racing.
MR17 Racing Engines offers:
- Engine builds, rentals, rebuilds, and tuning for premier karting categories (IAME, ROK, Rotax)
- Packages for 60cc, 100cc, and 125cc engines
- Reliable power and personalized service for championship weekends in the U.S. and in the Americas with drivers already using engines in Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and beyond
- Based in Orlando, Florida, MR17 also offers teams and drivers the opportunity for hands-on testing and development at the Orlando karting track. Teams ready to take their engine program to the next level are welcome to plan ahead and collaborate closely with Marco Romero and the MR17 technical team for top-level engines and on-track performance development.
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