Indian motorsport roars back to life this weekend as the 2026 Indian Racing Festival flags off at the Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore. The FIA-certified F4 Indian Championship headlines the season opener on September 12-13, fielding 14 emerging drivers across eight competitive teams.
The F4 campaign will span six rounds this year. The Indian Racing League is set to join the festival roster in October, with both high-octane series scheduled to culminate at the brand-new Navi Mumbai Street Circuit in December
Young Drivers Take Centre Stage
The F4 Indian Championship is FIA-certified and gives young racers a chance to move from karting into single-seater racing. It also gives drivers an opportunity to collect race experience and Super Licence points.
The 2026 grid has drivers from eight nationalities. India will have several representatives, along with racers from countries including Singapore, Kenya, the UK, South Africa, Norway, Australia and the USA.
The complete F4 line-up is:
| Team | Driver 1 | Driver 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Kolkata Royal Tigers | Aaron Mehta | Swarnav Das |
| Chennai Turbo Riders | Sai Aditya | Anay Doshi |
| Hyderabad Blackbirds | Bhuvan Bonu | Shravan Shanmugavel |
| Speed Demons Delhi | Krishay Gutte | Ntiyiso Mabunda |
| Goa Aces JA Racing | Aryan Narola | Luviwe Sambudla |
| Godspeed Kochi | Mahlori Mabunda | — |
| Ahmedabad Apex Racers | Mathias Alexander Forland | — |
| Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru | Enzo Rujugiro | Aris Kyriakou |
Drivers on the grid represent:
- India
- Singapore
- USA
- Kenya
- United Kingdom
- South Africa
- Norway
- Australia
Indian driver Bhuvan Bonu will race for Hyderabad Blackbirds. He sees Indian F4 as another step towards his long-term goal of reaching Formula 1.
Indian Racing League Starts in October
The Indian Racing League will begin its 2026 season after the F4 opening rounds. Its first round is scheduled for October 24-25 at the Madras International Circuit in Chennai.
Six city-based teams will take part in the league:
| Team | Backing |
|---|---|
| Kichcha’s Kings Bengaluru | Kichcha Sudeep |
| Goa Aces JA Racing | John Abraham |
| Kolkata Royal Tigers | Sourav Ganguly |
| Hyderabad Blackbirds | Naga Chaitanya |
| Speed Demons Delhi | Arjun Kapoor |
| Chennai Turbo Riders | Accord Group |
The IRL will have four rounds during the season. It is a franchise-based championship with both Indian and international drivers taking part.
Navi Mumbai Gets the Finale
The 2026 festival will have a new venue for its final rounds. The Navi Mumbai Street Circuit will host the season-ending events for both F4 India and the Indian Racing League in December.
This will also give the Indian Racing Festival its first major street-racing setting. Racing Promotions Pvt. Ltd. says the new venue will help take motorsport into a different environment and bring races closer to city audiences.
Where to Watch
Fans in India can watch the 2026 Indian Racing Festival through multiple television and streaming options.
- STAR Sports KHEL: Hinglish
- STAR Sports 2 Kannada: Kannada
- STAR Sports 2 Tamil: Tamil
- JioHotstar: English, Hinglish, Kannada and Tamil
- STAR Sports YouTube: Viewers outside India