Indian Racing Festival Raises Stakes With BIC Return, Navi Mumbai Street-race Finale

Indian Racing Festival raises stakes with BIC return, Navi Mumbai street-race finale (Indian Racing Festival raises stakes with BIC return, Navi Mumbai street-race finale)

The Indian Racing Festival:  The Indian Racing Festival (IRF) has announced its complete 2026 calendar, with Buddh International Circuit (BIC) in Greater Noida set to host Rounds 4 and 5 on Oct 31-Nov 1 and Nov 28-29 respectively, before the Festival culminates in the season finale as a night race at the highly anticipated Navi Mumbai Street Circuit on Dec 5-6.

The two venues will bring contrasting dimensions to the remainder of the 2026 season, taking the Festival from a renowned permanent racing facility to an urban street-racing environment.

Rounds 4 and 5 of the IRF 2026 season will mark the first appearance of India’s homegrown marquee racing league at the iconic Buddh International Circuit, with FIA-level racing returning to the venue after a 13-year gap.

The circuit, which previously hosted the Formula 1 Indian Grand Prix, will once again welcome top-level single-seater racing, providing a high-profile permanent racing venue for the championship's key stages and adding another major chapter to the season.

Meanwhile, the highly anticipated Navi Mumbai Street Circuit will host the grand finale of the 2026 Indian Racing Festival as a night race near Palm Beach Road. Staged under lights, the dedicated 3.69 kms street circuit will bring high-speed racing into an urban setting, taking the championship beyond a traditional permanent circuit and bringing the racing experience directly to audiences in the city.

This race format will mark the festival's second night race, following its first-ever night race in Chennai in 2024, bringing the action closer to audiences in a dynamic urban setting.

Speaking on the announcement, Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman & Managing Director, Racing Promotions Pvt. Ltd. (RPPL), said, “The 2026 Indian Racing Festival calendar reflects our ambition to take Indian motorsport into new spaces while continuing to raise the bar for the quality of racing and the experiences we create for fans. The Buddh International Circuit and Navi Mumbai are two developments that we have envisioned for a long time, and after all the hard work that has gone into bringing them together, we are delighted to finally share them with our fans.

From Coimbatore to Chennai

The announcement comes as the IRF moves into the next phase of its 2026 season. The F4 Indian Championship has already completed its opening two rounds at Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore, with the Indian Racing League set to join the action later this month.

Round 1 saw Aris Kyriakou post two runner-up finishes and a Race 3 win to top a weekend that produced seven different podium finishers across the three races. Round 2 at the same venue saw Goa Aces JA Racing's Luviwe Sambudla claim two wins, while Hyderabad Blackbirds' Bhuvan Bonu took the remaining race. Kyriakou's consistent run of podium finishes kept him at the top of the standings, leading Sambudla 93 points to 88 after two rounds.

The announcement comes as the IRF moves into the next phase of its 2026 season. The F4 Indian Championship has already completed its opening two rounds at Kari Motor Speedway, Coimbatore, with the Indian Racing League set to join the action later this month.

Article Source: IANS