Irvine-based K1 Speed has signed a multi-year sponsorship deal with 10-year-old kart driver Zayne Burgess, as Chinook Observer reported on Nov. 3, 2026. The agreement links the indoor electric karting company to a young racer who took his very first laps at a K1 Speed facility in Miami at age 5 and is now competing internationally with ambitions to reach Formula 1.
Under the terms of the deal, Burgess will wear K1 Speed branding on his helmet and racing suit. He is also scheduled to appear in promotional campaigns, participate in driver development initiatives, and make personal appearances at K1 Speed locations.
Burgess comes to the partnership following a 2026 season in international karting that included 16 races, 15 podium finishes, 11 victories, and four second-place finishes. His wins this year include titles in the WSK Super Master Series, the Trofeo Andrea Margutti, and the Italian Championship. Those performances followed his earlier appearances in Europe during the 2025 Champions of the Future Academy.
Most recently, Burgess finished second at the IAME World Final in Viterbo, Italy. Entering the event on short notice without prior testing, he competed in the Mini X30 category with an unfamiliar engine against 72 drivers representing 39 nationalities. He finished among the top three drivers in every qualifying heat, won one heat, and finished second in the final race as the youngest driver in the top 10.
Burgess is currently a member of the Driver Development Program at TWG Motorsports, the organization behind Cadillac's Formula 1 team. He also serves as an official factory driver for Parolin Motorsport.
The sponsorship fits into a broader driver development strategy that K1 Speed operates through its K1 Motorsport division. That framework includes K1 Speed indoor centers, outdoor facilities at K1 Circuit, and the Champions of the Future America series, designed to give young drivers a path from indoor karting to outdoor international competition.
David Danglard, chief executive officer and co-founder of K1 Speed, told Chinook Observer that supporting Burgess represents both a commitment to the company's vision and a source of immense pride, noting that Burgess demonstrates what talent and opportunity can achieve from his first karting experience to his current international results.
Kevin Burgess, the driver's father, told Chinook Observer that the family never imagined where the journey would lead when his son took his first laps at K1 Speed, adding that the family is grateful for the company's belief and support as he takes his next steps.
Burgess is scheduled to make his domestic debut in K1 Speed colors at the SKUSA SuperNationals in Las Vegas, running from Nov. 10 through Nov. 15, 2026.
K1 Speed was founded in 2003 by David and Susan Danglard to introduce European-style electric kart racing to North America. Headquartered in Irvine, the family-owned business operates 107 kart racing centers across 32 states and nine countries. Its facilities feature electric karts, onsite Paddock Lounges serving food and beverages, arcade games, retail sales of K1 RaceGear products, and competitive racing leagues. The company also hosts the K1 Speed World E-Karting Championship, an event open to racers from across its network that offers the largest single-event prize pool in competitive karting.
