OXFORDSHIRE, England – January 23, 2026 – FAT Karting League and FAT Racing today announced details of their 2026 Formula 4 Shootout, a two-phase international assessment program designed to select FAT Racing’s first fully funded Formula 4 driver. The Shootout will run February 6–11, 2026, evaluating four drivers through a comprehensive process modeled on Formula 1 driver-selection methodologies. One driver will earn a fully funded seat in the 2026 Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA. The Shootout represents a cornerstone of FAT Racing’s merit-based pathway from karting to professional motorsport.
FAT Racing addresses a fundamental challenge in motorsport development: the escalating costs of single-seater racing create financial barriers that prevent talented drivers from progressing beyond karting. Traditional pathways require families to fund budgets ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of pounds per season, effectively limiting professional racing careers to those with substantial personal wealth. Supporting only FKL drivers, FAT Racing eliminates this barrier by fully funding drivers selected through rigorous performance assessment, allowing them to focus on development and results. The 2026 British Formula 4 seat represents the foundation of a multi-year, multi-million pound program designed to support drivers from F4 through F3 and F2. The ultimate objective is to empower a driver from FAT Karting League to Formula 1.
“This is a historic moment for us, but more importantly, it’s a statement of intent,” said Rob Smedley, co-founder of FAT Karting League. “This has taken years of relentless work, belief and refusal to accept the status quo. Today, we are crystallising a real pathway from the FAT Karting League into single-seater racing that is based on talent, performance and capability — not on who can afford to pay their way forward. For too long, motorsport has filtered out exceptional ability simply because of budget. That has to change. Talent deserves opportunity, not exclusion, and we’re proud to be building a system that finally puts ability first.”
“The Shootout is the next step in our mission to create a truly meritocratic pipeline all the way to the top of the sport” said Ferdi Porsche, co-founder of FAT Karting League. “By removing financial roadblocks and pairing that with the technical expertise of our engineers, we’re ensuring that anyone gets a shot at becoming the next World Champion, regardless of their background.”
The Shootout will be conducted in two phases. Phase 1 will take place at FAT Racing headquarters in Oxfordshire and will evaluate drivers across multiple elements:
- Simulator work and performance analysis
- Karting performance assessment
- Strength and fitness testing
- Mental performance evaluation
- Media training and professional development
Phase 2 will be testing at Circuito Mike G Guadix in Spain, where drivers will take the wheel of Tatuus F4-T421 cars under simulated race and qualifying conditions. The assessment protocol has been developed in collaboration with industry leaders and FAT Racing’s F4 partner team.
Four drivers will participate in the Shootout: two who have automatically qualified by winning their categories at the FKL World Finals, and two who were awarded wildcard entries. While only one driver will be awarded the Formula 4 seat, all four participants represent the next generation of FAT Racing’s performance-based development pathway.
Shea Aldrich
Shea Aldrich, an Orange County California-based driver, is this year’s World Finals Junior Heavy winner. Shea is recognized for consistent pace, race intelligence, and adaptability across competitive environments. Shea has shown real talent on track and an ability to race well under pressure. He is a deserving entry to the FAT Racing shoot out.
Ellis McKenzie
Surrey-based driver Ellis McKenzie won the World Finals Junior Light category and is the youngest driver in the Shootout field. Ellis started karting only 2.5 years ago, entering the sport through lower cost arrive-and-drive championships, consistently showing talent beyond his experience. Since then, he has rapidly developed and refined his distinctive, smooth driving style which has earned him a Shootout slot.
Monde-Jnr Konini (Wildcard)
South African Scotland-based driver Monde-Jnr Konini enters the Shootout as a wildcard selection. Monde-Jnr has been racing karts since a young age demonstrating real talent without the financial back necessary to progress. FKL changed that for him. Winning the UK Junior Heavy Pro Championship and finishing 2nd place at the World Finals, Monde-Jnr’s talent, work ethic and commitment earned him an invitation to the FAT Racing shoot out as a wildcard
Jackson Wolny (Wildcard)
Hailing from Naperville, IL, Jackson Wolny joins as the final wildcard entry. Jackson has demonstrated he is a real talent throughout his time in karting, simply requiring the opportunity and chance to progress his career. Placing 3rd in Junior Heavy at the World Finals after dominating the Midwest Championship, Jackson stood out for his performance and mental strength when placed under pressure; a key attribute of a successful racing driver.
The selected driver will enter a comprehensive pre-season testing and preparation program ahead of the 2026 FIA British Formula 4 Championship season. For more information, please visit, http://www.fatkartingleague.com and http://www.fat-international.com/pages/fat-racing.
About FAT Karting League
FAT Karting League (FKL) is an international youth motorsport program built to democratize access to racing. Founded by Ferdi Porsche and Rob Smedley, FKL provides young drivers aged 5–17 with professional-grade electric race karts, transparent pricing, and a structured competition pathway. The league’s arrive-and-drive format eliminates the need for private kart ownership while ensuring equal performance across participants. With competitions across the U.K. and U.S., FKL culminates in the annual World Finals, where top racers compete for prizes including management contracts and a funded Formula 4 seat.
About FAT Racing
FAT Racing is the single-seater racing division of FAT, building a complete meritocratic pathway from karting to professional motorsport. Founded by Ferdi Porsche and Rob Smedley, FAT Racing exclusively develops drivers from FAT Karting League. Starting with British Formula 4 in 2026, FAT Racing aims to build a full pipeline of talented FKL drivers across multiple championships, creating a sustainable ecosystem based entirely on performance.