Lewis Hamilton races 100 karts for world record and charity event

Lewis Hamilton will race 100 karts at once in a record‑breaking event streamed live by Red Bull, Disney+, and ESPN at noon Eastern today. The seven‑time Formula One champion will take the wheel of a single kart while 99 other karts line up on the Red Bull Racing track in Los Angeles. The event is billed as the first mass‑participation kart race in history and will be broadcast to millions of viewers worldwide.

The stunt is part of a new “Kartathon” series that Red Bull launched last month to promote grassroots motorsport. The company has long partnered with Disney+ to create extreme‑sport content, and ESPN will provide live commentary and behind‑the‑scenes footage. Karting is the entry point for most professional drivers, and the series aims to give young racers exposure and funding. The 100‑kart event will raise money for the Red Bull Karting Academy, which trains under‑18 drivers from low‑income backgrounds. Red Bull says the race will also showcase the latest safety technology in karts, including reinforced frames and advanced braking systems.

The logistics are simple but impressive. The karts will be identical 125‑cc machines, each with a 10‑hp engine. They will start from a staggered grid and race a 1‑kilometre loop. Hamilton’s kart will be equipped with a high‑speed camera that streams his view to the audience. A team of 10 safety officials will monitor the track, and a drone crew will capture aerial footage. The event will last about 15 minutes, with a brief interview at the finish line. Fans on social media are already buzzing, with hashtags like #Kartathon and #HamiltonKart trending. Sponsors such as Monster Energy