Lydden Hill Circuit is to host the opening round of next year’s FIA European Rallycross Championship.

It will be the first time that Britain has staged a round of the championship for 12 years ago.

Delighted circuit director Amy Doran said: “It is a massive achievement by the team here to be awarded this and we will endeavour to be one of the best, if not the best round of next season.

“We have already started our planning for the event, which will take at least six months.

"We have further adjustments to be made to the rallycross circuit to ensure that we meet the FIA standards but I can comfortably say that we will get these improvements completed by Christmas.”

The Lydden organisers are predicting that the championship, to be held over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend (April 12-13), will attract more than 30,000 rallycross enthusiasts from over Europe.