An inferno that erupted at a Kent circuit started in the battery of an electric race car while it was charging, organisers have revealed.

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

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

It has since been confirmed the entire Special ONE Racing area was burnt down – including their transporter and both of their cars, one of which was to be driven by nine-time world champion Sébastien Loeb.

A statement released by the competition’s governing body last night revealed where the “extremely dangerous” fire started, though the exact cause is yet to be uncovered.

“Video evidence shows that the fire was initiated at the battery of the car while it was in the team area charging, but it is not clear why this happened,” FIA World Rallycross Championship (WRC) officials said.

“It was evident that only extremely quick thinking by the team members saved them from injury.”

As the precise cause could not be determined, officials from the WRC made the decision at 8.35pm to stop round four of the championship for safety reasons.

It means there will be no WRC races at Lydden Hill today (Sunday) – but the FIA RX2e Championship and the Motorsport UK British Rallycross Championship 5 Nations Trophy will still go ahead.

The WRC statement last night said urgent investigations into the “root cause” of the incident were carried out, with technical assistance provided on-site by the battery manufacturer, Austrian company Kreisel.

It adds: “At this time, it has been determined that the investigation has not progressed far enough to determine a root cause for the failure that led to the fire.

“Nor will the investigation be able to find the root cause in time for the event to proceed with the assurance of the appropriate level of safety for the spectators, team members and drivers.

“The FIA and the organisers have investigated various alternatives for the management of the event that might have permitted the competition to proceed.

“However, as the root cause is unknown, it was determined that all alternatives would be based on speculation on the causes of the extremely dangerous fire.

“Further, the battery manufacturer, Kreisel, was unable to provide an appropriate level of assurance in the system, pending their investigations.”

No injuries were reported following the fire on Friday.

A Kent Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said: “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.”

Sébastien Loeb, the most successful driver in world rallycross’s history, released a statement via Instagram yesterday, saying: “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.”

Having switched to a brand-new era of all-electric cars at the top level, the WRC was set to return to Lydden Hill for the first time since 2017.

The circuit hosted the first-ever rallycross event in 1967 for ITV’s World of Sport, with producer Robert Reed teaming up with the circuit’s founder Bill Chesson.

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