Garrett Manes to Defend Adult World E-Karting Title
Manes returns to K1 Circuit Winchester on May 3rd to defend his World E-Karting Championship title. Manes will need to finish on the U.S. podium to defend the World title.
Garrett Manes – 2025 World E-Karting Champion
Garrett Manes is returning to the track with an impressive list of accolades: the 2025 K1 Speed World E-Karting Championship title, an eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing veteran status, and a rapidly expanding real-world racing career. On May 3rd, the 24-year-old Virginia native will head back to K1 Circuit in Winchester to compete in the U.S. E-Karting Championship, hoping to once more secure his spot on the global stage.
Capitalizing on Championship Success
Taking home the $25,000 grand prize at last year’s World E-Karting Championship wasn’t just a trophy for Manes; it was the financial catalyst he needed to chase his real-world racing ambitions.
Manes used his winnings to buy the very Spec E30 car he had been renting, fully investing in his own trajectory. With the financial weight lifted, he went on a tear, winning nine races, claiming the NASA Mid-Atlantic Spec E30 Championship, and earning Rookie of the Year honors. So far this season, Manes has recorded an impressive four wins. His exceptional pace in the Spec E30 series quickly caught the eye of RVA Graphics Motorsports, a team looking for up-and-coming, high-level talent.
Stepping Up to the Toyota GR Cup
After showing promise during a test day at Dominion Raceway, Manes secured a partial-season ride with RVA Graphics Motorsports in the 2026 Toyota GR Cup North America series. Backed by Wigen Water Technologies, Manes is already making waves in the professional ranks.
In his GR Cup debut at Sonoma Raceway, Manes showed an impressive display of driving prowess, recording P5 and P4 finishes and earning the Hard Charger award. Most recently, Manes competed at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), earning back-to-back P8 finishes in his second official GR Cup race weekend.
The Game Plan for May 3rd
As he heads into the upcoming U.S. E-Karting Championship, Manes is keeping expectations manageable and his mindset relaxed. “My goal is to make Worlds,” Manes recently shared. “To be quite honest, I don’t really care which position that comes from. I just want to qualify for it”.
With his sim-racing sharpness and a massive year of real-world racing experience under his belt, Manes is ready to hit the track. He is taking a “no pressure, just go out there, have some fun” approach, but competitors know better than to underestimate the reigning champion.
Returning Champs
Manes is joined in his title defense by 2025 Junior World E-Karting Champion Kenneth “Preston” Blevins Jr. and 2025 Teen World E-Karting Champion Christian Velez. All three talented racers are in the running for repeat first-place honors.