More than five million viewers watched a Kent race circuit star in last night's episode of Top Gear.

The Lydden Hill circuit, just off the A2 outside Canterbury, was used by the BBC to secretly film a special rallycross feature in late 2014 and it aired last night.

The feature - which showed presenter James May compete in a special behind-closed-doors FIA World Rallycross Championship race - also included co-hosts Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond.

May, 52, raced a 600bhp VW Polo Supercar against some of the world's best rallycross drivers - including champion Petter Solberg - while Clarkson and Hammond watched on.

Lydden circuit manager Willie Woods said: "It was nice to have them down here. They all love the venue.

"It's great for the circuit to be on such a high-profile programme. The interest is unbelievable on Facebook and Twitter.

"The staff look forward to it because it's good to get up close to the celebrities and to have the world champion Petter Solberg here as well."

Solberg won the event with Tanner Foust in second while May, whose aim was to not be lapped in the races, was eventually lapped by the event runner-up.

The circuit, which is known as the home of rallycross, will host a round of this year's FIA World Rallycross Championship on 23-24 May.

Solberg said: “I didn’t see much of James on the track, but you have to give him credit for coming and having a go.

"I have to be honest, it’s not easy to get into one of these 600bhp World RX Supercars.

"Tanner was my main competitor and we had a big battle during the final.

"I gained a lot of great experiences from the race to bring with me into the upcoming season and especially round four when we return to Lydden in May.”

It was not the first time the trio of petrolheads have ventured to Kent to film the long-running show.

Last month, the results of last summer's filming in Lydd was shown on TV.

And in January, a giant version of The Stig made its way through the county as part of a PR stunt for the show.