Meet the 2026 Adult World Championship Podium
Garrett Manes – $25,000
Back-to-Back K1 Speed World E-Karting Champion
Garrett Manes successfully defended his title at the 2026 K1 Speed World E-Karting Championship, walking away with his second consecutive Adult World Championship and the $25,000 grand prize. After locking in the pole position with a stellar qualifying lap of 1:18.264, Manes flawlessly managed the chaos of the opening corners, securing the inside line through the Rocky Moran Corner and eventually building a commanding five-second lead. His championship mentality on the physical track is mirrored by his recent ascendance in the virtual racing world. Manes proudly announced he has signed a highly coveted contract with Rick Ware Racing to compete in the 2026 eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series. Bolstered by the technical prowess of Norse Force Racing (NFR), he is stepping into the 13-race season as a paid professional sim racer, vying for a $100,000 first-place prize out of a massive half-million-dollar purse.
Beyond the simulator and the K1 Circuit, Manes’ real-world racing career continues to accelerate. Immediately following his World E-Karting victory, Manes took to the track in the E30 class at Hyperfest, where he faced some mechanical adversity. Manes’ engine overheated in the first session due to a tossed alternator belt. After qualifying in pole position, Manes dyno’d low, but was still able to rely on his racing prowess for a successful showing. With his K1 Speed winnings set to support his physical racing endeavors and the giant presentation check destined to hang behind his sim rig, Manes is proving that elite racecraft translates seamlessly across karts, cars, and simulators.
Liam Mahon – $15,000
K1 Speed U.S. Champion, World Runner-Up
Daytona Beach native Liam Mahon took the 2026 K1 Speed Championship by storm, officially earning the crown as the Adult U.S. E-Karting Champion for the second time (‘24, ‘26). His path to the national title was fueled by a relentless dedication to grassroots racing, having spent his recent seasons grinding outdoor rental karting leagues. When a narrow miss at a Skip Barber shootout left him just shy of a racing license, Mahon didn’t let up; instead, he broadened his horizons by leaping into the world of endurance racing. He tackled his first Champ Car race at Sebring, jumping into a Miata to drive a grueling, pitch-black night stint. Mahon described the night race experience as “one of the coolest things ever.” His willingness to embrace unfamiliar challenges recently led him to race Legends cars at the Winter Nationals in Auburndale. Despite it being his first time in that type of car, he impressively gained positions in every race he ran.
Behind Mahon’s diverse racing resume is a highly disciplined approach to the sport, shaped heavily by his four years working in Formula SAE during college. “I like to say that I have an honorary engineering minor just because I did it for all four years of my college career,” Mahon explained. “Having that mindset really helps you learn how to step-by-step think about things and set up the car.” His analytical mindset was a key part of Mahon’s driving in the final, helping provide confidence when making passes. For Mahon, success on the track ultimately comes down to the fundamentals: “It’s just taking all that in while you’re traveling fast, trying to make sure where your braking zone is, where your marker is, where’s the racing line.” By maintaining that calculated composure, Mahon was able to take $10,000 back home to Daytona Beach.
Rodrigo Arellano – $7,500
K1 Speed World 3rd Place Finisher
Hailing from Mexico City, Rodrigo Arellano proudly represented his home country at the 2026 K1 Speed World E-Karting Championship and is the first Mexican racer to finish on the podium in the championship’s five-year history. Regularly sharpening his driving skills across the K1 Speed locations around Mexico City, Arellano’s qualification for the World Championship came as an unexpected triumph. Because he didn’t anticipate making the cut for his second consecutive annual trip to K1 Circuit, the travel arrangements with his parents were made at the very last minute, leaving them with only plane tickets and a hotel reservation as they traveled to Southern California. Despite the impromptu nature of the trip, Arellano kept his focus sharp on the track. He credits his racing success to his mental composure, advising aspiring drivers to “stay calm, feel where you are, feel your vehicle… You don’t have to feel nervous or overthink it, just drive.”
Driven by a lifelong passion that began with pedal cars before he was tall enough to reach the pedals of a standard go-kart, Arellano is laying the groundwork for a professional racing career in his future. While he continues to dominate in the rental karting scene, his ultimate goal is to transition into Mexico’s highly competitive national road racing scene. With his ultimate dream to one day pilot an Audi R8 GT3 (the car he logs the most hours with on his simulator), Arellano’s step-by-step approach ensures he is a driver to watch in the coming years.
Want to Compete for the $47,500 Adult Prize Pool in 2027?
Compete in your local K1 Speed’s Challenge GP league! Be the best at your center, prove yourself at the state championships, and earn your way to U.S. Nationals and the World E-Karting Championship.
Curious to Learn More About the 2026 K1 Speed World E-Karting Championship?
Check out our full recap of juniors, teens, and adults by clicking here.