Part of today’s racing has been cancelled after a huge blaze wiped out a team’s racing area – with investigations into the cause of the fire underway.

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

Footage shared on social media showed thick black smoke billowing high into the sky, with it now being confirmed today’s RX1E event will not go ahead – though other events will.

In a statement, the FIA said: “The FIA World Rallycross Championship races scheduled for Saturday will not take place while investigations continue regarding the cause of the fire.

“Regrettably, the entire Special ONE Racing area was burnt down, including both of their RX1e cars. There were no injuries and no other racing cars were affected.

“This incident does not affect the FIA RX2e Championship or Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy, which will continue as planned. A decision regarding Sunday’s scheduled World RX races will be made on Saturday.”

The FIA’s statement confirmed one of the cars was to be driven by Sébastien Loeb, a nine-time world champion.

Rumours had begun to circulate yesterday that the most successful driver in WRX’s history had been affected by the fire.

Via his Instagram, the 49-year-old Frenchman said: “All my thoughts go out to all the men and women who have worked or who are working on this project with so much determination and passion and who have seen everything go wrong.”

The event was set to start at Lydden Hill today 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 world’s first rallycross event was hosted at Lydden in February 1967 for ITV’s World of Sport, with producer Robert Reed teaming with the circuit’s founder Bill Chesson.

Future Formula One racer Vic Elford took victory that day in a Porsche 911.