A Kent race circuit has lost its most prestigious event attended by thousands of people, it has been announced.

Organisers of the FIA World Rallycross Championship will move their British round from Lydden Hill to Silverstone from 2018, saying they will create a new event with festival elements at the Northamptonshire Formula 1 track.

The Canterbury circuit is the home of the sport and has held a round of the world championship since 2014, but is now nearing the end of its contract for the meeting.

Lydden Hill bosses will still hold round five of the 2017 championship on May 27-28.

World championship managing director Paul Bellamy said: “We have been in talks internally at IMG for some time about creating a large scale motorsport festival weekend and we are delighted that Silverstone is able to share our vision for the future.”

Mattias Ekstrom won at Lydden last year in front of a record crowd of 20,000 spectators.

Visit www.lyddenhill.co.uk for ticket details for the May 27-28 event.