An "IC" is an integrated circuit. I.e. a "chip".
The chip labeled "NEW BRIGHT" on it appears to be some kind of microcontroller. It's controlling two H-bridges (the two sets of four, four-pronged things) which I assume the smaller set is for the steering motor and the larger set for the drive motor. If you were really handy with a soldering iron you could remove it and attach wires to the chip side of R12/R13 (the drive pair of inputs) and R16/R17 (the steering pair). This would make sense if you took a Google course in how H-bridges work. 
Probably better off buying a bridge like cr0sh suggested.