Junior FAT Karting League Finalists Ellis McKenzie and Shea Aldrich to Advance to February Shootout Event for a Chance at Fully Funded Formula 4 Seat
LOS ANGELES – December 16, 2025 – On Sunday, FAT International’s grassroots youth racing initiative, FAT Karting League (FKL), announced the winners of its 2025 World Finals race at Willow Springs International Raceway in California. More than 100 of the best youth drivers from the U.K., the Midwest U.S., and California raced to win major rewards – including a fully funded seat in the FIA British Formula 4 Championship for junior drivers.
Shea Aldrich based out of Orange, CA has won the Junior category. Ellis McKenzie, hailing from just outside of London, has won the Junior Light category.
Aldrich started his racing journey when he was just five years old. Aldrich has defied the odds in many of his races – going toe to toe with older, more experienced drivers at just 14 years old yet still managing to come out on top. McKenzie, despite having only raced for two years, has achieved a highly decorated racing career earning numerous champion titles. This year’s World Finals marked McKenzie’s first time racing outside of Great Britain. Aldrich and McKenzie qualified for the World Finals by winning the California and UK FKL Championships respectively.
Both youth drivers have automatically qualified to advance to FAT Racing’s Shootout event in February. This year’s Finals have organically shaped into a U.S. versus U.K. showdown, a dynamic embraced by fans and families across both regions. With FKL expanding into 5 new global markets in 2026, future Finals will feature an even broader and more diverse field of drivers competing for the top prize.
“This year’s inaugural World Finals was a truly amazing event with the community coming together to showcase the fastest growing karting leagues on the planet. All of the youth drivers represent the standard we’re setting for FAT Karting League across the globe. The competition is tough, but beyond that, we’re proud of the team, the wider community and camaraderie we’ve built leading up to this moment. We can’t wait for what’s next in 2026,” said Rob Smedley, founder and co-owner of FKL.
“This weekend showed what happens when opportunity meets talent,” said Ferdi Porsche, founder of FAT International and co-owner of FKL. “For some of these drivers, it was the first time competing outside their home country. Giving them a platform to race, learn and a proper chance to pursue their dream is what matters most. The World Finals are another step toward shaping a more inclusive future for motorsport that is built on merit, and built to last.”
The weekend kicked off on Saturday with FAT Racing’s Head of Programme, James Fifield’s, F4 talk where the presentation laid out FAT Racing’s vision for 2026 while breaking down the league’s meritocratic pathway to professional racing for its drivers. The 2026 F4 prize is just the very first step in what will become a talent-first academy leading up to the very pinnacle of the sport. Saturday was also home to a variety of pre-final matches on the racetrack.
On Sunday, the World Finals culminated with an electrifying match up between the league’s most skilled drivers. This weekend’s crowned drivers took to the podium to share their reflections on this weekend’s win before closing out with an after-party celebration.
“It feels amazing to be the first ever Junior Light World Finals winner to [advance] to [the F4 shootout in] Spain. I’m over the moon to be honest, I didn’t think I could do this,” Ellis McKenzie said. The driver explained his big dream is “racing with FAT in Formula 4 next year” with eventual goals to participate in Formula 1. McKenzie explained his excitement in seeing where he can get to in this sport and the unprecedented opportunity presented by FAT Karting League.
The February Shootout represents a career-defining opportunity for four FKL drivers competing for a fully-funded seat with FAT Racing in the 2026 FIA British F4 Championship. Running from February 6-11, 2026, the comprehensive evaluation programme will assess candidates across multiple disciplines: karting performance, simulator work at FAT Karting League headquarters in Oxfordshire, and rigorous fitness, media, and mental evaluations. The selection process will culminate with two days of testing in Tatuus F4-T421 machinery at Circuito Mike G Guadix in Granada, Spain. The successful driver will then enter an intensive pre-season testing programme ahead of the championship opener at Donington Park on April 18.
This year’s 2025 World Finals marks a major milestone for FAT International’s global effort to diversify and democratize access to motorsports. FKL is designed to eliminate high costs of entry, promote talent, and provide inclusive pathways for the most promising youth drivers aged 5 to 17.