Motorsport is set for a transformation with the launch of the FAT Karting League (FKL), a partnership between Ferdinand “Ferdi” Porsche’s FAT International and the Smedley Group, founded by former Formula 1 engineer Rob Smedley. Evolving from the Global Karting League (GKL), the FKL aims to break down the traditional barriers to motorsport, making it affordable and accessible to talented racers from diverse backgrounds.
In a conversation with Hypebeast, Porsche said “Motorsport has always been seen as an elite, old-white-man sport. FKL changes that. It’s affordable, diverse, and full of energy — it’s what the sport needs.”
Traditional motorsport is notorious for its high costs, often requiring families to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars for their children to even enter the competitive scene. The FKL seeks to challenge this dynamic, reportedly slashing costs for participants by a staggering 96 percent.
“Families were spending up to $250,000 a year to even have a chance,” Smedley shared. “We’ve made it possible for a season to cost less than $5,000. That’s a game-changer.”
The FKL achieves this through a combination of innovative engineering and a new operational model. Instead of families owning karts and bearing maintenance costs, the league provides state-of-the-art electric karts on an arrive-and-drive basis. This approach eliminates the need for capital investment, leveling the playing field and allowing young talent to focus on their skills.
“We’ve created a system that prioritizes talent over finances.” – Rob Smedley
At the core of the FKL are its electric karts, designed and developed in-house by Smedley’s team. By replacing traditional internal combustion engines with electric drivetrains, the league achieves cost efficiency and equipment parity. Each kart is meticulously engineered to provide a balanced, competitive experience, allowing drivers to rely on their skills rather than superior machinery. Porsche further explained that the karts are developed with F1 expertise, noting that they allow young drivers to get professional experience, without a professional-level price tag.
At the time of writing, there are three kart categories, tailored for different age groups, with top speeds ranging from 25 mph for younger racers to 65 mph for older competitors. Despite their affordability, the vehicles retain the feel and performance of traditional racing karts. “We even mapped the power delivery to mimic internal combustion engines,” Smedley explained, adding “This ensures the kids get an authentic racing experience.”
The FKL’s commitment to diversity is already evident in its pilot hub in the UK, where female participation has reached 35 percent — a significant leap compared to the 5 percent seen in traditional leagues. Notably, Porsche shared that he’s confident the first female F1 champ will come from the FKL, expressing that “It’s inevitable when you create a system that gives everyone a fair shot.”
To ensure a truly innovative platform, the league uses cutting-edge data analytics to evaluate driver performance. Drawing on Smedley’s decades of F1 experience, this system tracks every aspect of a driver’s performance, from cornering speeds to braking precision, providing objective insights to identify and nurture top talent. “Our data-driven approach takes the guesswork out of scouting. We’re building a system that guarantees the best drivers get recognized and supported,” Smedley stated.
The league’s crowning achievement is its unique prize: a fully funded seat in FAT International’s Formula 4 team. This provides the top FKL driver with a direct pathway to professional motorsport — an exciting new opportunity in grassroots racing. Notably, FKL’s ambitions don’t stop at affordability and inclusivity. In January 2025, the league will relaunch its UK hub, serving as the foundation for its European operations. By mid-2025, the FKL aims to expand to the U.S., with two hubs set to open, marking the first step in a global rollout.
Smedley explained that the goal is to be in 50 different markets within the next years, with a grand target of reaching one million kids worldwide — offering them the chance to discover their potential and the opportunity to chase their dreams. This global network will culminate in the FAT World Cup, an annual event where the best drivers from each hub compete for the coveted F4 seat. The one-day competition is designed to captivate younger audiences and redefine the excitement of motorsport.
“The World Cup isn’t just a race — it’s an event. We want kids to feel like stars, experiencing the energy and hype of professional racing.” – Ferdi Porsche.
The FKL isn’t merely a racing league — it’s more of a cultural movement within the sport. Porsche and Smedley envision the league as a platform to engage with youth culture, blending motorsport with music, fashion and gaming to create a dynamic, modern experience. Porsche expressed, “With FAT Karting League, we’re shaking up an outdated industry. This is about making motorsport fun, accessible and inspiring for the next generation.”
Notably, both Porsche and Smedley reiterated that the launch of FKL is not simply a hobby for them but rather a “purpose-driven project” that aims to democratize motorsport and create an organic pipeline of talent for all levels of racing. Catch a glimpse of one of these young racers already chasing the dream in the clip below.
