Firefighters were called huge blaze involving multiple vehicles at a Kent race circuit – where the FIA World Rallycross Championship (WRX) is due to be held this weekend.

Nine fire engines were scrambled to Lydden Hill, in Wootton, near Canterbury, shortly after 8.30am today where crews battled the flames.

Footage shared on social media shows thick black smoke billowing high into the sky.

One video shows huge flames rising from a lorry at the site.

A spokesman for the WRX confirmed the fire broke out in the Special ONE Racing team area of the track.

Some have speculated one of the cars ablaze belongs to French rally driver Sébastien Loeb – a member of the Special ONE team – but this has not been confirmed.

Loeb is the most successful driver in the WRX, having won the world championship a record nine times in a row.

The event was set to start at Lydden Hill tomorrow and take place over the weekend.

The race circuit’s website says the WRX last visited the Kent venue in 2017.

Having switched to a brand-new era of all-electric cars at the top level, the contest was set to return to the circuit that hosted the first-ever rallycross event in 1967.

The fire service urged people living or working near Lydden Hill to close windows and doors due to smoke from a fire.

A spokesman said in an update shortly before 11am: “Nine fire engines and a bulk water carrier were sent to the scene, where firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used main jets and compressed air foam to put the fire out, before dampening down any remaining hot spots.

“People living or working near the area are still advised to close windows and doors as a precaution.

“Please share this update with anyone in the affected area who might not have access to the internet or social media.

“No injuries have been reported and the cause is not yet known.”

At 4.30pm the fire service issued a further update to say firefighting operations were complete.

The spokesman also reiterated that no one had been hurt and said the cause of the blaze was still not known.

A spokesman for the FIA World Rallycross Championship said: “A fire broke out in the Special ONE Racing team area at Lydden Hill this morning ahead of the FIA World Rallycross Championship event at the track.

“Fire crews are on-site.

“The venue is not open to the public today and no injuries have been reported.

“Further updates will be communicated as we continue to assess and monitor the situation.”