IFMAR announces Huge RC as replacement ISTC World C/ships host

After 2-months of working behind the scenes to negotiate & secure a new host for the cancelled 1:12 & ISTC Worlds in China, IFMAR has announced Huge RC in Thailand as the replacement track that will stage the 2026 ISTC World Championships.  The 13th running of the 1:10 Electric Touring Car World Championships is now scheduled to run from the 10-14th of November, with two International Practice Days (IPD) running at the indoor asphalt track on November 8 & 9th.  With the multi track facility Hongyu GDC in Foshan originally having been selected to host back to back 1:12 and ISTC World Championships in late March/early April, IFMAR are still working to secure a new venue for the 22nd edition of the 1:12 Worlds.  Overwhelming feedback received from existing entrants following the cancellation of the event on the Hongyu GDC carpet track, expressed a strong preference for the 1:12 racing to be kept on carpet which was something that was not a viable option for Huge RC.  Located in Bangkok, while the track has successfully hosted two previous Nitro Touring Car World Championships (2014 and 2024), staging the Electric Touring Car Worlds will special moment for the track owner, 2002 ISTC World Champion Surikarn Chaidajsuriya.  The new dates means exactly 2-years after winning a record equalling 3rd ISTC World title in Bakersfield, California, Bruno Coelho will official begin his quest for a fourth consecutive title, a feat that would see him become the category most crowned World Champion.  Winning the 2024 title with Xray, now racing with Infinity, Coelho shares same tally total honours with Marc Rheinard, the 2004, 2008, 2010 World Champion set to make his World Championship debut with Xray at Huge RC after joining the Slovakian manufacturer last week.

Official IFMAR Announcemet

Dear Racers!

Announcement Regarding the Reschedule of the 2026 IFMAR 1/10th & 1/12th Electric Track World Championships.

IFMAR is pleased to confirm that the 2026 IFMAR 1/10th ISTC World Championship has now been rescheduled and will be hosted at HUGE R/C Circuit, Bangkok, Thailand, in November 2026.

IFMAR, together with FEMCA, has this week reached formal agreement with Huge RC and MAXIMA Motorsport to host the 1/10th ISTC division of the 2026 IFMAR Electric Track World Championships.

We thank Sischart Ratanarat and Surikarn Chaidejsuriya for their cooperation and willingness to host this event at one of the world’s most renowned dedicated RC facilities — HUGE R/C Circuit — a professional indoor on-road RC facility featuring an asphalt racing surface and previous host of the 2014 and 2024 IFMAR I/C World Championships.

This will be a four (4) day Championship with the schedule as set out below:

Schedule

Day 0 — Tuesday 10/11/2026 — Check In
Day 1 — Wednesday 11/11/2026 — Open Practice
Day 2 — Thursday 12/11/2026 — CP and Q1
Day 3 — Friday 13/11/2026 — Q2 to Q5
Day 4 — Saturday 14/11/2026 — Q6 and Finals

In addition to the above schedule, two (2) International Practice Days (IPD) will be available on the 8th and 9th of November. The track layout will be changed after these 2 days of IPD practice.

These IPDs will be limited to non-local racers and racers who have not attended the facility for an event or practice day between the date of this announcement and the 8th of November 2026.

Further information, including the Stage 1 Report, will be released shortly.

This event replaces the previously scheduled 2026 IFMAR Electric Track World Championship event that was to be held in Foshan, China.

With respect to the 1/12th division of the Championships, the overwhelming feedback received from existing entrants was a strong preference for the event to be conducted on carpet. IFMAR will therefore now seek proposals from each of the four (4) member BLOCs for a suitable host venue in 2027.

Further information regarding the 1/12th Championship will be provided as it becomes available.

IFMAR appreciates the patience of competitors, manufacturers, team managers and national organisations during the uncertainty surrounding the originally scheduled event in China. We remain committed to delivering a fair and professionally managed World Championship for all competitors.

Source: IFMAR [ifmar.org]