Tillotson Racing Brings the T4 Drift Kart and Affordable Karting to PRI 2026

Booth 4909 features the T4 Drift Kart developed with professional drifter James Deane, the T4 Series kart and tracks, and a Friday panel on widening the grid in motorsports.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDIANAPOLIS, IN, November 10, 2026: Tillotson Racing returns to the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show, December 10 to 12 at the Indiana Convention Center, with one message for racers, track operators and motorsports fans: you shouldn’t need a professional-level budget to have a professional-level experience in motorsports. At Booth 4909, the company will showcase the new T4 Drift Kart, the world's first purpose-built drift kart, as part of the broader T4 Series, raced in over 35 countries.

Tillotson will also host an interactive panel on affordable racing on Friday, December 11, and open its booth to media on Thursday, December 10.

The T4 Drift Kart, Developed with Professional Drifter James Deane

Announced at PRI 2025, the T4 Drift Kart brings the angle, slide and car control of full-scale drifting to an affordable kart. Tillotson developed and tested the kart with Irish professional drifter James Deane, a three-time Formula Drift champion, refining tires, chassis setup and steering geometry until it drove like the real thing. Built on the same 225cc four-stroke engine platform as the T4 Series, the kart sold out at launch and is now available for pre-order for track owners and hobby racers, with test drives available at the T4 Kartplex outside of Tampa, Florida.

Watch James Deane put the T4 Drift Kart through its paces: youtube.com/watch?v=1YTYQdLyEYM

"The T4 Drift Kart gives people a way to learn real car control without the cost of building and running a drift car," said Charles Demirjian, President of Tillotson Racing. "Our world-class engineering team worked directly with James to build something that feels authentic to drifters and is approachable for first-timers. Now our focus is getting more of them onto tracks across the US."

“The value for money with this drift kart is unbelievable,” said James Deane. “In my first session, I did almost half as much drifting as you’d get in a full competition weekend, and that was in just a few minutes. You get more seat time, it’s affordable, and it’s an absolute blast to drive. We spent a lot of time on the details, from the steering ratio and gearing to the Ackermann setup, so it holds angle, transitions and reacts as close as possible to the way a real drift car does. It’s super close to the feeling I get in competition, in a package almost anyone can get into.”

The T4 Series: Affordable Spec Racing for Every Age and Skill Level

Launched in 2019, the T4 Series offers a competitive racing experience on an international level. Every driver races identical equipment: an FIA homologated chassis with a Tillotson TPP-225RS four-stroke engine and a Maxxis tire built for the T4 kart. With costs kept predictable and modifications restricted, the focus stays on driving well and having fun. Classes run from Bambino drivers as young as 5 through Junior, Senior and Masters.

The series is growing fast in the US. In 2026, Tillotson launched the T4 Americas Cup, with rounds in Florida and San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Drivers can race T4 at these US tracks:

Track operators interested in adding T4 racing or T4 Drift Kart sessions can visit Booth 4909 or contact Jake Mottaz, Director, T4 Series USA, at jake@kartrising.com.

National championships, the T4 Americas Cup, T4 Euro Cup and T4 Asia Cup all lead to the annual T4 Nations Cup, the series' global championship event. Announced in October 2026 after an incredibly successful five-year run at the Kartodromo Internacional Lucas Guerrero in Valencia, Spain, the T4 Nations Cup will move to the historic South Garda Karting in Lonato, Italy, September 22 to 26, 2027, with registration opening in early 2027.

Supporting Women on the Grid

The 2026 T4 Nations Cup set a record with 26 female drivers among 277 competitors from 32 countries. Tillotson's Ladies of T4 Series program supports them with dedicated media coverage and on-track assistance and coaching from Fabienne Lanz. Because every T4 driver races the same equipment, the series gives women and girls a level path from their first race to world-level competition, and Tillotson is working to bring that same momentum to US tracks.

Panel: Widening the Grid, Friday, December 11

Widening the Grid: Karting, Drift Karts, and the Push for Affordable Racing

Friday, December 11, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Room 206

This interactive panel explores how karting and drift karting are becoming an affordable entry point into motorsports, for first-time racers and for track operators looking to grow their business. Panelists will share what is bringing new faces of all ages and genders to the grid, and what it takes to keep racing accessible.

  • Charles Demirjian, President, Tillotson Racing
  • Jake Mottaz, Owner and Manager, T4 Kartplex
  • Taylor Yochum, R&D, GoPowerSports
  • Evelyn Demirjian Fratzke (moderator), Marketing Director, Tillotson Racing/DCC Marketing

Session details: PRI 2026 session listing

Media Availability: Thursday, December 10, 10:30 to 11:00 AM, Booth 4909

Media are invited to stop by Booth 4909 on Thursday, December 10, from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM. Tillotson President Charles Demirjian, T4 Kartplex owner Jake Mottaz, and Marketing Director Evelyn Demirjian Fratzke will be on hand for interviews, photos and video. Story angles include:

  • The T4 Drift Kart: see it up close, get specs and view footage of James Deane testing it.
  • Affordable racing: what it really costs to race T4, and how spec racing keeps costs predictable.
  • Growing US karting: where to race T4 in the US today and new tracks coming in 2027.
  • Women in motorsports: the record 26 female drivers at the 2026 Nations Cup and the Ladies of T4 Series program.
  • Builders and partners: discuss Tillotson's work with partner/distributor GoPowerSports and view the custom T4 minibike.

To book a time or request photos and video, contact Evelyn Demirjian Fratzke at edf@dccmarketing.com

About Tillotson Racing

For more than 100 years, Tillotson has engineered precision fuel systems for some of the world's most demanding applications. Tillotson Racing, based in Tralee, Ireland, brings that engineering heritage to motorsport through the T4 Series. Launched in 2019, the T4 Series gives drivers a cost-effective entry point into competitive karting, with every driver racing an FIA Karting-approved chassis and the Tillotson TPP-225RS four-stroke engine. Today the series is raced in more than 35 countries, with national championships and regional cups leading to the T4 Nations Cup. Tillotson Racing also produces the T4 Drift Kart, developed with professional drifter James Deane. Join the Blue Revolution at tillotson.ie.

Media Contact

Evelyn Demirjian Fratzke

Marketing Director, Tillotson Racing/DCC Marketing

edf@dccmarketing.com

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Show Categories:
Asphalt
Drifting
Other
Press Release Type:
Product
Company:
Tillotson Racing/DCC Marketing
Booth #:
4909
Media Contact Name:
Evelyn Demirjian Fratzke
Media Contact Email:
edf@dccmarketing.com