FAT Karting League is expanding its hubs for the 2026 season to four (Photo: FAT Karting League)

The internationally-expanding FAT Karting League (FKL) made its debut in the United States during the 2025 season. The arrive-and-drive electric karting program is the creation of former Ferrari F1 race engineer Rob Smedley and was originally launched in the UK, open for drivers ages between 5-17. The mission of the FKL is to make motorsport accessible and appealing to ALL young racers with a redefining grassroots racing movement focused on inclusivity and affordability, while inspiring the next generation of motorsports talent.

What makes FAT Karting League unique from traditional karting, aside from the arrive-and-drive format, is the costs. Budgets for competitive karting cover a diverse range when factoring in equipment, travel and technical support. What FKL provides in an opportunity to compete in a full championship season for roughly $4,000. With the FAT Karting League providing equally-prepared equipment, the program helps focus on and promote driver skill and ability.

FAT Karting League welcomed hundreds of drivers in 2025 at all different levels for their Arrive and Drive programs (Photo: FAT Karting League)

In 2025, FAT Karting League launched its first hub in the UK in January 2025 and, only months later, the United States hub for FKL began with a Midwest program that spanned Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio. Midway through 2025, a California hub was established within the southern portion of the state. Each hub was able to provide try-outs (now referred to as ‘practice sessions’) along with both Regional and Pro Championship events.

The 2025 program for FAT Karting League in the United States featured over 400 drivers experiencing the Midwest program and well over 450 drivers taking part in a portion of the California hub events. Within those numbers was a mix of young drivers totally new to the sport, drivers with rental kart experience, and those who have already been in competitive karting.

The culmination of the 2025 season came in the form of the FAT Karting League World Finals. The inaugural event was held at the Willow Springs International Raceway on December 12-14, 2025. Drivers from all the FKL hubs in the UK and the United States took part with a chance to win a free year of karting for Bambino, Cadet, and Cadet Light, and for age-eligible Juniors, the opportunity to progress up the motorsports ladder.

That opportunity through FAT Karting League is their goal of taking drivers to the next level in motorsports. In its first year, FKL was able to provide a fully-funded racing seat to one driver in the 2026 Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA. FKL and FAT Racing put on the FAT Racing F4 Shootout in February. Four drivers from the USA, UK and South Africa competed over six days and were evaluated across karting performance, simulator work, psychometric analysis, media and communications, physical fitness and Formula 4 car testing. Midwest-based Jackson Wolny was named winner for the 2026 seat.

California welcomed FAT Karting League at the end of 2025, and will now host a hub in the North and the South (Photo: FAT Karting League)

Heading into the 2026 season, the FAT Karting League US program will begin with four hubs. The Midwest and Southern California hubs return for a second season, and the program is now also launching Northern California and Texas hubs.

Midwest: Pre-Season practice has already begun with the Regional program split up into a South program and North program. South includes Kaminsky Park Circuit in Monticello, IN, G&J Kartway in Ohio, New Castle Motorsports Park in Indiana, and Motorsports Country Club of Cincinnati in Ohio. North features the Kart Circuit Autobahn in Illinois and 61 Kartway in Iowa. Pro Championship includes six rounds with G&J, Mill-Rite Raceway in Wisconsin, Norway Motorsports Park, New Castle and Road America.

SoCal: Pre-Season practice and the Regional program has already begun with the first event held at the Adams Motorsports Park. Three more races will be held in June and October with the finale set for Apex Karting at the end of October. The Pro Championship is split up into Spring Season and Fall Season. Spring includes Willow Springs, Santa Maria Karting Association, and Buttonwillow Raceway Park from May to June. Summer is held from September to November including Willow Springs, Apex, and two weekends at Adams.

The Texas hub for FAT Karting League has already kicked off for 2026 (Photo: FAT Karting League)

NorCal: The launch of the Northern California hub begins with Pre-Season Practice in May at the Blue Max Kart Club in Davis, California with two more weekends coming in July. The Regional Championship is held from August to September with Blue Max, Sonoma Raceway, and Kinsman Kart Club in Dixon, California among the facilities for the five-event program. The Pro Championship follows the same schedule at the same circuits.

Texas: Multiple Pre-Season Practice sessions have been established for the new Texas hub, including the first two days in May which are already sold out. Six more days in May and June are available before the Regional and Pro Championships begin. Regional includes four events at KartMoto with the finale held at North Texas Kartway, running from June to November. The Pro schedule includes North Texas Kartway, Gulf Coast Karters facility in Katy, Amarillo Motorsports Park, Speedsportz Racing Park and KartMoto from June to November.

North Carolina and Florida are expected to be launched soon in the USA while a Germany hub is coming in Europe.

For complete details, head to fat-kartingleague.com.

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