How Do We Get More Kids Racing? Ferdi Porsche & Rob Smedley - F.A.T. Karting League

In Episode 118 of The InEVitable, MotorTrend hosts Ed Loh and Jonny Lieberman sit down with two racing powerhouses — Ferdi Porsche, great-grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, and Rob Smedley, former Ferrari race engineer to Felipe Massa — to talk about FAT Karting League, a bold effort to democratize motorsport. Karting has always been the entry point for Formula 1 hopefuls — but at costs reaching over $1.5 million for families, the dream has been out of reach for most kids. FAT Karting aims to change that with arrive-and-drive electric karts, fixed budgets, data-driven coaching, and a truly merit-based system that makes motorsport accessible again. Ferdi and Rob explain how the league works, why they’re bringing racing to new generations worldwide, and how their mission extends from karting to F4, F3, and beyond. They also share details about the upcoming FAT Ice Race in Montana, global expansion plans, and why fun over speed might just be the future of car culture.

Guests:

Ferdi Porsche, Founder, FAT International / FAT Karting League

Rob Smedley, Co-founder & CEO, FAT Karting League; former Ferrari F1 Race Engineer

Hosts:

Ed Loh & Jonny Lieberman | MotorTrend

📍 Recorded in Los Angeles 🌐

More info: fat-karting-league.com | fat-international.com