Silverstone to host World RX round from 2018 season

The Formula 1 venue will replace Kent's Lydden Hill circuit on the World RX calendar, with Lydden's current contract for hosting the British round of the series coming to an end.

"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," said World Rallycross managing director, Paul Bellamy.

Nine new rallycross circuits have been introduced to the world championship since it was formed in 2014: the South African finale for 2017 will be the 10th and Silverstone will be the 11th.

No plans have been announced as to where a rallycross circuit at Silverstone will be built at the Northamptonshire venue, or where in the World RX calendar the event will fall.

Autosport reports, however, that a new purpose-built track will be created in the F1 track's infield.

Lydden Hill has traditionally hosted an early-season round. It will hold the fifth round World RX this year on the last weekend in May, the final event in its tenure as world championship host.

Rallycross celebrates the 50th anniversary of its first event this season, which took place on February 4 1967 at the Kent circuit.

After a break of almost a decade, international rallycross returned to Lydden Hill, owned by rallycross champion Pat Doran, in 2009 for a round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship.

Sports Marketing firm IMG undertook the promotion of the series for the 2013, for which Lydden Hill hosted the opening round, and has hosted the British round of the world championship since the sport gained FIA World status in 2014.

The world championship's press release added that Silverstone will not only host the rallycross round, but also other festival elements, the details of which will be announced at a later date.