19th Annual AETC Online

Fritz Kayl - KATECH
Technical Director & C.E.O.

He started as an engine builder in the late 60’s servicing the professional drag racing teams while employed at Booth-Arons. Detroit was a hot spot for Drag Racing but his real passion was road racing from the beginning. Limited shops built engines for professional road race teams at that time and most were located on the west coast. This all changed in the early 70’s when he found employment at McLaren Engines in Livonia, MI. They were building engines for Formula 5000 and USAC Championship cars (Indy Cars) at the time. Leaving McLaren as Vice-President, Fritz along with Warren Frieze founded Katech in 1977 to service the growing demand for corporate race programs. He has been the only “Technical Director” at Katech since its inception and still enjoys the technical challenges brought to the company daily.

For 31 years Katech engines have produced hundreds of wins in racing’s most prestigious leagues, culminating in more than 50 championships including ALMS GT1 and GTS, Le Mans GT1 and GTS, SCCA World Challenge GT, Grand-Am Rolex GT, IMSA RS, GTU, Kelly American, WSC, 5 Trans Ams, 3 Busch Grand National, 3 ASA and A.J. Foyt’s 1998 IRL championship.