After the huge success of July’s inaugural Lydden Legend Festival, the event will return in 2026.

The festival is a celebration of the glory of period rallycross and rally machinery, developed from the Rallycross Legends Show concept created in France by long-time racer Philippe Tollemer.

Last summer’s meeting at Lydden Hill - the home of rallycross - followed in the footsteps of France’s Loheac Legend Festival, and in a biennial collaboration between the two Loheac will again host the Legends event in May next year before Lydden Hill takes over in July 2026 on a date to be confirmed.

This year fans were dazzled by an incredible show of on-track demonstrations from the worlds of rallycross and rallying, while static displays in the paddock only added to the event’s flavour. The target for 2026 is to build on what has been started, while continuing the strong bond between the Loheac and Lydden events.

Hannah Bennett, managing director of Lydden Hill race circuit, said: “We have had such positive feedback following our first running of Lydden Legend Festival that we are very excited to prepare to run the festival again in 2026, while also supporting our friends at Loheac, led by Patrick Germain and his team, for the Loheac Legend Festival next year.

“We learnt a huge amount this summer and we are already putting those learnings into practice to make Lydden Legend Festival bigger and better for 2026.”

Highlights this year included the Group B rallycross demonstration races, the first time such a spectacle had been witnessed in decades, with drivers like Francois Delecour in action in a Ford RS200. Meanwhile, 14-time European Rallycross champion Kenneth Hansen drove the legendary Peugeot 306 Supercar he raced against in period as part of the 90s Supercar category, along with leading the lunchtime track parade with 1992 FIA European Rallycross champion Will Gollop sitting alongside.

In the rally division, a wonderful and diverse range of machinery from all eras took part in the on-track rally stage sessions, with the Group B Audi Quattros among the favourites with the fans trackside.

As in 2024, the 2026 event will also include autograph sessions and on-stage interviews throughout the weekend, welcome drinks to open proceedings on Friday evening, the Saturday evening Legends Gala and VIP hospitality.