Ferdi Porsche wants everyone to go racing

·1 hr 12 min·5 clips

Ferdi Porsche, great-grandson of the founder, reveals his plan to democratize racing with a new electric karting league for kids.

The episode begins with host Matt Farah introducing Ferdi Porsche, the great-grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, as the guest. Ferdi is the founder of Phat International, known for ice racing events and a new electric karting league. The discussion opens with casual banter about driving tests, California laws, and cultural differences between the U.S. and Germany. Ferdi shares his background in architecture and how he merges it with car projects, like designing an Autogrill bridge in Italy. He explains how he discovered historic ice racing in Austria and revived it to create Instagrammable, fun events for younger crowds. The origin of the 'Phat' brand name is revealed—it comes from a shipping company that sponsored a Le Mans-winning Porsche in the 1990s. Ferdi details the Phat Karting League, a spec electric kart series that reduces costs by 96% compared to traditional karting, using an arrive-and-drive system. The league is merit-based, with winners earning a fully funded seat in Formula 4, aiming to democratize motorsport. Matt shares his experience driving the kart at Willow Springs, praising its handling. Upcoming events include an ice race in Big Sky, Montana, in February and a karting championship at Willow Springs on December 14th. The conversation also touches on family legacy, with Ferdi discussing the pressures and perks of being a Porsche, and favorite Porsche models like the GT3 and 356. Listener questions cover topics like Porsche boats, Dakar trims, and underrated paint colors. The episode concludes with invitations to the events and thanks to patrons.

As heard by us

A grounded talk about karting as a serious path toward open-wheel racing.

Ferdy Portia joins The Smoking Tire for a focused, useful conversation about making karting feel like a more credible step toward open-wheel motorsports.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You want a car-world chat that starts with kids' karting as a possible pathway toward open-wheel racing, then keeps special Porsches nearby.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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