Rallycross will abandon its roots and lose a huge chunk of its soul this weekend when the world championship leaves Lydden Hill for Silverstone.

Yes, its toilets are far from state-of-the-art and you will have to wait a while getting out, but the one-mile track nestled deep in the Canterbury countryside is the sport’s true home.

Without it, it’s like Formula 1 minus Monaco or the FA Cup final without Wembley.

Lydden is a natural amphitheatre that offers views like no other, one that has hosted rallycross meetings since it was born there 50 years ago.

Organiser IMG has done good things with the sport since 2013, attracting star drivers and manufacturer teams.

But with Silverstone they have chosen image over substance, ditching a track steeped in history for a characterless spot of land in Northamptonshire.

It’s a decision that has riled the purists who have enjoyed the sport for generations, those true followers who knew it existed long before ‘RX’ branding arrived.

Lydden owner Pat Doran was quick to dispel fears the venue would shut without the meeting, but its loss will certainly be felt.

He thinks the circuit’s inability to build a new entrance and other developments was the main factor in IMG’s move, but switching to a track stuck on Silverstone’s featureless infield is no improvement.

It’s not just a loss for Lydden but for Kent as a whole, too, as the tourism trade receives a welcome boost whenever the world rallycross circus comes to town.

This is not the first time the circuit has been without the sport’s headline act – the European championship was absent from 1996 to 2009 – so it could certainly return one day, especially if planning permission is gained.

But this weekend’s world show is Lydden’s last for now and although that’s a crying shame, at least the sport’s 50th anniversary can still be celebrated where it belongs.

Make sure you savour it.

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