IAME Series India Launched as India Joins Global Karting Movement

Coimbatore, India, May 26, 2026: Indian motorsport achieved a major milestone with the official launch of the IAME Series India, bringing the country into the globally recognised IAME karting ecosystem for the first time.

The five-round national karting championship, promoted by RA Motorsports, will begin at the CoASTT Kartmania circuit in Coimbatore on May 31, with 34 entries confirmed for the opening round.

The championship will feature internationally acclaimed IAME karting engines across four categories — Mini U10, Mini, Junior and Senior — offering Indian racers an international-standard platform aligned with global karting regulations.

Among the key young talents participating are Chennai racers Rehan Khan Rasheed and Aaruthran Prabu, along with promising youngster Shiv Neel, son of India’s first Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan.

The top two finishers in each category at the end of the championship will earn the opportunity to represent India at the prestigious IAME Asia Finals at the historic Macau International Circuit in December.

In a joint statement, representatives of RA Motorsports, Rasheed Khan and Dr. Sree Prathap, said the launch marks India’s integration into a global karting structure active across 48 countries.

“We are proud to launch the IAME Series India, integrating our country into a global program active in 48 countries. Our objective is to deliver a professionally managed, sustainable, and internationally aligned series under FMSCI regulations,” the statement said.

The organisers also confirmed plans to attract Asian teams and international drivers in future rounds to further raise the competitive level and provide greater international exposure for Indian racers.

The championship will run under the regulations of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI), ensuring national recognition and adherence to internationally accepted sporting standards.

The launch of the series is viewed as a significant step for Indian motorsport development, especially given the strong connection between IAME karting and Formula 1. Several current F1 stars, including Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso, Oscar Piastri, Oliver Bearman and Arvid Lindblad all competed in IAME-backed championships during their karting careers before progressing to Formula 1.

The 2026 calendar includes two rounds at Coimbatore’s CoASTT Kartmania in May and June, followed by double-header rounds at Madras International Karting Arena in Chennai during July and August. The championship finale will take place at Kartopia on August 30.

Founded in 1968, IAME is regarded as one of the world leaders in kart racing engines, with a long-standing reputation for developing future motorsport champions through globally standardised competition platforms.

The organisers said the Indian series has been designed around performance equality, cost control and fair competition, with a limited pool of IAME X30 engines being used to ensure technical parity across categories.