Electrifying: How Karters Can Enter Porsche’s “Pyramid”

Attention, prospective professional sports car racers: Porsche has opened a door that could be a rung in the Porsche pro ladder system, which it refers to as its “Motorsport Pyramid,” starting with free entry into the Porsche Sprint Challenge North America, or Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West, for a full season. Near as we can tell, that could be worth around $35,000.

The manufacturer just announced a partnership with K1 Speed, which is an indoor (electric) kart racing chain that was founded in 2003. K1 has locations from coast to coast, including a kart center in Daytona Beach, Florida, the site of the 2026 season opener for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship—the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona in less than a month, on January 24-25. K1’s electric karts have been billed as being capable of reaching 45 mph, slower than the IMSA Porsches on Daytona International Speedway go, but pretty quick for an indoor circuit.

In the announcement, Porsche Motorsport North America and K1 Speed say they’ve signed a multi-year partnership that will have Porsche Motorsport branding at all K1 Speed karting centers in the U.S., while K1 Speed decals will appear on the front bumper of cars in Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Porsche Sprint Challenge North America, Porsche Sprint Challenge U.S.A. West, and Porsche Endurance Challenge North America.

The foundation of the program is the K1 Challenge GP, K1 Speed’s international competitive karting league structure. The leagues are divided into Junior, Teen, and Adult age groups, with the Teen and Adult categories forming the K1 Speed side of the Porsche selection process. Drivers compete monthly at their local K1 Speed facility, earning points toward advancement into state and national-level competition.

“K1 Speed hosts thousands of motorsports enthusiasts each year, and all of us at PMNA look forward to connecting with them,” said Volker Holzmeyer, president and CEO of Porsche Motorsport North America. “Whether they are casual fans of motorsports, or are searching for a path into professional racing, we’re excited to introduce them to the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid, and the opportunities that it offers.”

At the conclusion of the K1 season, Porsche and K1 Speed will select two drivers from the pool of top racers who reach the national level—one from the teen class and one from the adult class—for whom the entry fee for a future Porsche Sprint Challenge North America or USA West season will be waived.

Said David Danglard, CEO and founder of K1 Speed: “It’s an immense honor for K1 to partner with Porsche Motorsport North America to provide up-and-coming American racers with an extraordinary opportunity. We built K1 on the belief that future champions start here, and this partnership with Porsche creates a pathway to take them from our indoor tracks to the country’s greatest circuits.”

That five-step Porsche motorsports “pyramid” formally begins with “Porsche Experience Center events,” moving up to “track experience,” with racing schools and track days; then the “Porsche one-make series” such as the Sprint Challenge; then comes “GT sport” in GT2, GT3 and GT4 cars, finally leading to races in the IMSA or World Endurance Championship series at the pyramid’s pinnacle.

Separately, on December 2, K1 announced a program for 2026 called the Champions of the Future America series, which it said is a “new initiative designed to elevate the next generation of American motorsport talent and create new pathways through the sport.” It is in partnership with the RGMMC Group (Race Group Management & Marketing Corporation, a motorsports promoter). The press release lists a 10-round series that begins January 31-February 1, and continues through September.

The Switzerland-based RGMMC has a similar series that launched in Europe in 2020. RGMMC Group says that it is experienced in “Rally Cross, Touring Car, GT Series, Formula racing and Motocross” promotions. Exactly what prizes are at stake in the K1 Champions of the Future America series, or what it costs to enter, is not disclosed.

Globally, K1 lists 107 kart centers total, but the Porsche partnership is designated specifically for the 72 centers located in the U.S. For more information on entering the Porsche/K1 program, look for details to be posted soon at Porschesprint.com, and K1Speed.com.