What did Chris Harris think of FAT Karting League?

Chris Harris praised FKL's level playing field, where identical electric karts remove the equipment arms race and put the focus back on each driver's ability, learning and resilience.

Where did Chris Harris drive an FKL kart?

Chris Harris drove a FAT Karting League electric kart at Shenington Kart Club in wet and cold conditions.

Why does FAT Karting League use identical electric karts?

Identical karts give every driver access to the same machinery, so performance is decided by driving ability rather than spending more on engines, tyres or equipment.

What qualities does Rob Smedley look for in a racing driver?

Rob Smedley highlights raw speed and resilience, alongside adaptability, consistency and the ability to learn.

Chris Harris Tries FAT Karting League: Inside the Future of Junior Karting

25 September 2026 · 6 min read

Chris Harris with FAT Karting League founder Rob Smedley at Shenington

What happens when one of the world's best-known motoring journalists gets behind the wheel of a FAT Karting League kart?

Chris Harris came to Shenington Kart Club to find out.

Joining FAT Karting League founder Rob Smedley, Chris experienced the FKL electric karts first-hand, watched young drivers battle difficult wet conditions and spoke to Rob about what makes FKL different from traditional grassroots karting.

Chris Harris takes on the FKL electric kart

FKL uses identical electric karts, meaning every driver has access to the same equipment. Chris described this as taking away the "arms race" of grassroots karting.

"You can buy your way into performance... and you can't do that here."

An equal playing field for young drivers

When everyone has the same machinery, the focus turns back to the driver: how they can improve, learn and adapt.

What makes a talented racing driver?

Rob highlighted raw speed and resilience as two qualities that matter for young drivers hoping to progress.

Watching young drivers learn in real time

Chris watched the drivers experiment with braking points, lines and approaches to corners while analysing what was happening at the limit.

Competition without losing the community

The young racers competed while talking, sharing experiences and helping one another improve.

From electric karting to Formula 4

The drivers' next assessment stages included simulator, fitness and psychometric testing before two days in a Formula 4 car in Spain.

"You've started something here"

FAT Karting League gives young drivers the opportunity to compete, develop and discover how far their talent can take them without expensive equipment becoming the defining factor.

Try us out at FAT Karting League

Everything Chris noticed comes back to one idea: give every young driver the same machinery, proper coaching and a real pathway, and talent decides the rest. Every driver races in identical electric karts, receives coaching and feedback after every session through the FKL training pathway, and can follow a route from first laps in a kart all the way to Formula 4.

Find your nearest hub