The 2026 National Indoor Karting Championships (NIKC) is set to begin, as Round 1 is underway, which will be taking place at the Drift Motor Speedway (DMS), Ayala Malls Manila Bay, on April 19.
The NIKC is regarded as the largest professional indoor karting event in the Philippines, and for this year’s championships, a total of 47 racers across three divisions will race to the checkered flag. The three divisions are categorized as follows: Bambinos (4 to 6 years old), Cadets (7 to 11 years old), and Intermediates (11 years old and above). Here is the number of racers per category:
– Bambinos: total of 12 racers
– Cadets: 16 racers
– Intermediates: 19 racers
Organizers of the 2026 NIKC said that this year’s grid is composed of both seasoned competitors and first-time racers. This makes the season exciting, as it shows the continued growth of indoor karting in the Philippines, uniting the best talents under one national platform.
Registration for the official race on Sunday at DMS Ayala Malls Manila Bay will start at 8:30 a.m, while the opening remarks will take place by 9 a.m. NIKC organizers remind the competitors that it will be strictly follow the schedule, which is why it is a must that all racers are expected to be on time and ready for their sessions. Delays will not be accommodated, and a missed schedule will result in forfeiture.
Meanwhile, NIKC is aware of the current crisis in the Middle East that’s affecting fuel supply globally. As such, NIKC noted that it continues to lead the way through the use of electric karts. Through this, it shared that electric karts demonstrate that “motorsports can evolve through sustainable and alternative energy without compromising performance.” Organizers added that this allows indoor karting to move forward responsibly.
Ensuring fairness and integrity throughout the championship is a distinguished panel of stewards, who are all accomplished racers with local and international experiences:
– Yuan Gavin Bugayong
– Axel Nocom
– Michael Andaya
– Marcus Lacambra
– Yash Bugayong
The 2026 NIKC will feature six rounds across two premier DMS venues, Ayala Malls Manila Bay and Taytay:
Round 1 – April 19
Round 2 – May 16
Round 3 – June 28
Round 4 – July 26
Round 5 – September 20
Round 6 – November 28
Autocar’s Take
The 2026 National Indoor Karting Championships (NIKC) is officially underway, and Round 1 will be happening on April 19 at the DMS, Ayala Malls Manila Bay. The said indoor karting race series is a nice platform for honing and further developing the future racers of the Philippine motorsport.
Competition like this helps individuals who are aspiring to become a racing champion one day. Karting is also the doorway into motorsports, and has been the foundation of great Formula 1 champions such as Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, and Lando Norris, among many others. As such, Round 1 of the 2026 NIKC will go lights out on April 19 at the DMS, Ayala Malls Manila Bay.
