Rc car vs Arduino

The difference between the battery voltage (9.6V) and the regulator's voltage (5V) multiplied by the current is given off as heat by that regulator.

If you look at the datasheet for your L293 you'll see how to connect power from the battery directly to the L293's Vcc2 to power the motors and then you won't have all that current going through the regulator on the Arduino.