Latvian Talent Dominates in New York: Rolands Sprude Wins in American Electric Karting League

Breaking barriers and setting milestones, 14-year-old Rolands Sprude takes the top podium in his first-ever U.S. electric karting race – and he does it with BSR technology under his feet.

When FIA Karting Academy pilot Rolands Sprude flew to New York this July with his brother and mechanic Ricards Vecvagars, few expected the Latvian teenager to shake up the leaderboard at the American Electric Karting League (AEKL). But that’s precisely what he did—winning the “Heavy” class in his very first U.S. race.

Roland’s victory isn’t just a personal breakthrough. It’s a symbolic moment for Latvia, the first country in the world to launch a national electric karting championship back in 2018. That pioneering effort was led by Blue Shock Race (BSR), together with the LMT Autosport Academy and the Latvian Karting Federation.

This isn’t the first time Rolands has made history. At just nine years old, he became Latvia’s first children’s electric karting champion when the BSR junior class launched in 2020. Since then, he’s grown into one of the most promising young talents in European karting, officially representing Latvia in the FIA Karting Academy.

Roland’s decision to compete in the U.S. wasn’t just about racing—it was a technical and emotional challenge. The championship, co-organized by BSR and the World Karting Association (WKA), featured competitors from around the world, including Kyler Carnes (USA) and Leonardo Olivjera (Brazil).
After placing second in the qualifiers—just fractions of a second behind Jamaican driver Yamori Richardson—Rolands executed a flawless final race. With cold focus, strategic maneuvers, and a perfectly tuned kart, he surged ahead and claimed first place.

“This is more than a win—it’s a full-circle moment. Rolands started as Latvia’s first electric karting child champion. Now he’s conquering the international stage again with BSR. It’s a story of progression and global impact,” said BSR representatives.

It remains unclear whether Rolands will race in Australia or Japan later this year or in 2026 as part of BSR’s global electric karting circuit, but one thing is certain—his trajectory points toward even greater titles. Wherever he goes next, he carries not just ambition and talent, but also the unmistakable hum of Latvian-born innovation.

From our side at Blue Shock Race, we want to express our deepest gratitude to Rolands and Ricards Vecvagars. These young men have grown alongside us—from the early days here in Latvia when BSR was beginning, to now representing the full potential of our technology on an international stage. Their journey is more than personal success; it’s proof of what’s possible when determination meets innovation. Through their achievements, they’re not only pushing boundaries for themselves, but helping BSR show the world what electric karting is truly capable of.

Back in 2020, a young Rolands Sprude, alongside ten other pioneers, took part in the very first BSR electric karting championship in Latvia, organized by the Latvian Automobile Federation. At the time, it was a groundbreaking event—the first of its kind anywhere in the world. But this wasn’t BSR’s first milestone. In 2018, BSR had already launched the world’s first national electric karting championship, a historically significant achievement made possible in partnership with the LMT Autosport Academy.

The LMT Academy itself has been the cradle of motorsport talent in Latvia, nurturing names like Mārtiņš Sesks (WRC rally pilot), Raivis Veikšāns (national-level drift pilot), and many more.

This is a story not just about racing. It’s about how the world evolves, how new generations rise, and how technological breakthroughs occasionally shift the course of motorsport history. Blue Shock Race has been part of these young lives—and in return, they’ve become a living part of the BSR world.