Meet the 2026 Teen World Championship Podium
Maksim Yarich – $10,000
K1 Speed World E-Karting Champion
Seventeen-year-old Maksim Yarich from St. Catharines took center stage by winning the 2026 K1 Speed Teen World E-Karting Championship, securing Canada’s first-ever world title. With experience in gas karting competitions through Rotax and extensive track experience, Yarich has embraced K1 Speed’s indoor competitions. During the World Final, Yarich showcased his exceptional racing instinct, quickly moving from fourth to third on the opening lap before executing a race-defining pass to take the lead on Lap 2. He then methodically built a commanding gap, crossing the finish line to claim the championship title and the impressive $10,000 prize. This major win was a moment of pure relief and joy for the young driver, marking the culmination of over a year’s worth of strong dedication. Yarich’s diligence was exemplified through our post-event interview, stating, “it was just wake up, race, repeat. That was all it was for me.”
Looking ahead, Yarich plans to invest his $10,000 championship winnings directly into his outdoor Rotax racing season, fueling his ultimate ambition of competing in high-level GT racing, such as the Porsche Cup. The dedicated teen is already building an impressive resume both on and off the track. When he isn’t competing, Yarich actively sharpens his skills through iRacing, utilizing a custom simulator setup at home to practice for major events. For aspiring drivers hoping to reach his level, Yarich offers straightforward advice: prioritize consistent practice, gain as much track experience as possible, and never hesitate to ask questions of faster, more experienced racers to accelerate your own learning.
Alek Dininski – $5,000
K1 Speed U.S. Champion, World Runner-Up
Thirteen-year-old Alek Dininski from Las Vegas capped off an incredible season by winning the U.S. E-Karting Championship and securing a hard-fought second-place finish at the Teen World E-Karting Championship. For the young driver, standing on the podium with a trophy in hand was a surreal moment: “It felt amazing, you know, I’ve never really won a huge event like this [U.S. Championship]… beating 80 racers just from America… it was a fun experience.”
With a background starting in gas karts at age five and recently stepping up to a 2-stroke KA Junior kart, Dininski brought a wealth of outdoor racing experience to K1 Circuit. During a highly competitive World Final, Dininski found himself in an intense battle with the leaders, eventually making a late-race push to close the gap on the leader and secure the runner-up position on the podium. If he had just a couple more laps, Dininski would have made the battle for first an interesting one.
Making the quick four-hour drive from Vegas with his family, Dininski credits much of his success to his strong support system, especially his father, who doubles as his mechanic and heavily invests time and effort into his racing. Both Alek and his father obtained go-karts around the same time, kickstarting a new shared passion between generations. As he looks toward his future, which includes moving up to K1 Speed’s teen league, Dininski remains incredibly grounded. When asked for advice for aspiring racers, he emphasized gratitude just as much as track skills: “Dedication and hard work is what really gets you good at this sport… and also to be grateful for what you have, ’cause racing is a very expensive sport… not very many people get that opportunity.”
Patrick Bernatowicz – $2,500
K1 Speed U.S. & World 3rd Place Finisher
Sixteen-year-old Buffalo Grove native Patrick Bernatowicz recently proved himself on the international stage, securing a hard-fought third-place finish at the 2026 K1 Speed Teen World E-Karting Championship in Southern California. A racer at heart, Bernatowicz has spent the last three years competing in Briggs 206 and Ignite spec classes across the Midwest. He operates as a dedicated, two-man team alongside his father, a partnership that has taught him the value of patience and hands-on learning. At the event, Patrick prioritized rigorous practice to master the brand-new, state-of-the-art track layout, a decision that paid major dividends against a highly competitive international grid.
The path to the world podium was anything but easy, requiring immense mental fortitude from the teenager. During the World Final, Bernatowicz suffered an early setback that saw him drop back in the field. Rather than conceding defeat, he dug deep to claw his way back into contention, ultimately making a decisive pass on the final turn of Lap 8 to claim his podium spot behind Yarich and Dininski. Reflecting on the comeback, Bernatowicz noted, “I remember at that point I kind of gave up inside, but I knew I had to keep pushing, and once I got in that position where I’m like ‘I need to get to the front,’ that allowed me to get those overtakes done. And then when I got back to third, I remember feeling very accomplished, like okay, you just can’t give up, you got to keep pushing even when you think that there’s no hope for a podium.”
Looking ahead, the teen plans to reinvest his prize money directly into his gas karting career, keeping his focus firmly on the finish line.
Want to Compete for the $17,500 Teen 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.