The Madras International Circuit at Irungattukottai, about 40 km from the city off the Chennai-Bengaluru highway corridor, hosts the final round of the 2026 Indian National Car Racing Championship on 11 to 13 December, organisers announced in August. That weekend will decide this year’s national champions. Before it, the circuit ran Round 3 of the MRF 4W national racing series on 11 October, with wins for Krishay Gutte and Ishaan Madesh in MRF Formula 2000, UNI reported.
The track opened in 1990 as India’s first permanent racing circuit and is owned by the Madras Motor Sports Club (MMSC). If you want to watch a race, try a track day or understand where Chennai motorsport is heading after the state’s new Motor Sports City announcement, this is the place to start.
The track in figures
The figures below come from a 2019 Autocar Professional report on the circuit, which was then still called the Madras Motor Race Track.
| Feature | Main circuit | Club circuit |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3.717 km | 2.067 km |
| Turns | 12 | 7 |
| Average width | 11 m (12 m at the start line) | 11 m |
| Direction | Clockwise | Clockwise |
The main circuit has three straights, the longest about 250 m, so it rewards braking and cornering more than raw top speed. The circuit holds an FIA Grade 2 licence, which ThePrint noted in its report on the state’s motorsport plans. Grade 2 allows most international categories below Formula 1.
Who races here
Irungattukottai is the home of Indian national championship racing. In a typical year it hosts:
- Car racing. MRF single-seater classes (Formula 2000 and Formula 1600) and national touring car categories. The 2026 Indian National Car Racing Championship has four rounds, two at Kari Motor Speedway in Coimbatore, one at BREN Raceway in Bengaluru and the finale here.
- Motorcycle racing. MMSC runs the Indian National Motorcycle Racing Championship. In 2022 its final round here had a 20-race card with nearly 200 entries per round across Honda, TVS, Yamaha and KTM classes, plus a girls’ category, DT Next reported.
- Franchise racing. The Indian Racing Festival (Indian Racing League and F4 Indian Championship) used the circuit for pre-season testing and its opening round in August 2024, before moving to the Chennai street track, the promoter’s releases show.
Local names come through here too. In the October 2026 round, Chennai’s Gyan S won an MRF Formula 1600 race.
Watching, track days and getting there
National rounds are usually open to spectators, and the club stands give a view of the main straight and the first corners. Entry arrangements change by event, so check the event organiser’s announcement or call MMSC before you travel. The 2026 national car championship’s organisers say all its sessions will be streamed live.
There is no metro or suburban train to the circuit. Most fans drive or take a cab via Sriperumbudur. Carry water and a cap: the paddock area has limited shade and the mid-day heat is strong even in December.
Track days and racing schools run at the circuit through the year, but schedules are set by MMSC and private operators. Anyone wanting to drive on track needs proper safety gear, and racing in national events needs a competition licence from the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI).
What the Motor Sports City plan means
On 3 September 2026, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced in the Assembly that the state would build a Motor Sports City in Chennai, alongside a Tamil Nadu Olympic City. ThePrint reported that the complex is meant to host Formula 1 down to Formula 4 races and run training programmes for young drivers. No site, cost or timeline has been made public. Until it is built, Irungattukottai remains the only permanent circuit in the Chennai area, and the night-racing idea MMSC tested in 2019 has not become a regular feature.
Quick answers
How long is the Madras International Circuit?
The main layout is 3.717 km with 12 turns. A shorter 2.067 km club circuit is also used.
What is the next big race there?
The final round of the 2026 Indian National Car Racing Championship, scheduled for 11 to 13 December.
Who owns the circuit?
The Madras Motor Sports Club. The track was earlier known as the Madras Motor Race Track or the Irungattukottai race track.
Is it the same as the Chennai street circuit?
No. The street circuit around Island Grounds was a temporary track used for the 2024 night race. Irungattukottai is a permanent facility outside the city.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Night racing at Madras Motor Race Track in the offing (Autocar Professional)
- Chennai set for new Olympic City, Motor Sports City (ThePrint)
- MRF 4W national racing, Round 3 at Madras International Circuit (UNI)
- CTR-JK Tyre FMSCI Indian National Car Racing Championship 2026 unveiled (ThePrint / ANI)
- Press releases, Indian Racing Festival 2024 (Racing Promotions Pvt Ltd)
- Stage set for National 2W Racing Championship final round (DT Next)
