Lydden was founded in 1955 by
Bill Chesson with the help of the
Astra Motor Club. From 1957, they promoted stock-car racing and grass-track racing for motorcycles. By 1962, Chesson wanted to progress and laid a tarmac track in order to promote motor and motorcycle road racing. The original plan was for a 1-mile circuit, but this scheme had to be put on hold when the tarmac ran out at what is known as the Devil’s Elbow; the result was the short circuit. In 1965,
tarmac asphalt was laid for hosting car racing up to
Formula Three. On 4 February 1967, the sport of
Rallycross was born at Lydden, thought up by TV producer Robert Reed and race organiser Bud Smith in co-operation with Chesson. Combining tarmac and non-tarmac elements, the inaugural race was won by
Vic Elford in a
Porsche 911. Since 1973, Lydden Circuit has seen rounds of
Embassy/ERA European Rallycross Championships and
FIA European Championships for Rallycross Drivers, the first 23 were all organised by the
Thames Estuary Automobile Club (TEAC). To this day, Lydden, as the so-called "Home of Rallycross", still holds
British Rallycross Championship racing. On 9 September 1968, then-unknown English driver
James Hunt recorded his first race win driving a Russell-Alexis Mk14
Formula Ford car. Hunt would return on 5 May 1969, this time driving a
Motor Racing Enterprises entered
Merlyn Mk11A, and recorded his second ever win. By 1986, the
RAC Motor Sports Association (MSA) was pressurising Bill Chesson to erect
Armco barriers, but he refused to do so, on the grounds that they would be dangerous to the motorcycle-racing fraternity. When RAC MSA threatened to refuse him a new circuit permit, he put it up for sale. Tom Bissett bought the circuit. From 2008 the new lease holder was the British Rallycross Champion
Pat Doran. On 24–25 May 2014, Lydden Hill played host to the newly formed
FIA World Rallycross Championship. The event was run under similar principles to the FIA
European Rallycross Championship in the previous few years, but with the likes of
Petter Solberg and
Liam Doran being notable drivers competing in the championship. The American
Nitro Rallycross series raced at Lydden Hill to begin the
2022–23 season on 18–19 June. Lydden Hill is the first track to host Nitro RX outside North America. == European rallycross returns ==