World Rallycross Championship bosses considered moving the British round to Brands Hatch before opting for Silverstone, it has emerged.

Organisers IMG announced in January that the prestigious meeting will leave Lydden Hill for the Northamptonshire Formula 1 circuit from next year.

But championship chiefs told KentOnline this week that talks were held with Brands Hatch owner MSV about switching to the West Kingsdown track, which hosted the British Rallycross Grand Prix from 1982 to 1995.

Managing director Paul Bellamy said: “There were a lot of circuits looked at in the UK.

“We had discussions with Brands a while back and other circuits, but I think we have found the right partner.

“We looked at Brands, but it didn’t really get any further.”

The original rallycross circuit at Brands Hatch was designed and constructed by four-time British Rallycross champion Trevor Hopkins.

The track, which included a loose section at Paddock Hill Bend and fast knife-edge section along the Southbank, hosted its last rallycross event in 2004.

Double British Rallycross champion John Welch - who scored a famous victory in the 1985 British Rallycross Grand Prix at Brands - says the Kent circuit would have been an ideal venue.

"For me, Brands would have been a stunning option..." - John Welch

“For me, Brands would have been a stunning option as it is a perfect arena but I do not think it has got the room to do it,” he said.

“Jonathan Palmer (MSV chief executive) is a phenomenal rallycross fan, but with what IMG want to do and the noise restrictions at Brands, they just can’t do it there.

“At Silverstone, they do not have a noise problem.”

IMG has signed a five-year deal with the Northamptonshire circuit and is hoping to attract a crowd of 30,000 people next season to its SpeedMachine festival.

Organisers say the event will include music acts, street food, manufacturer test drives and e-gaming alongside rallycross.

Welch thinks the new Silverstone track, which has been built on the site’s Stowe circuit, is lacking any “impressive” corners.

“It looks like the bookkeeper has designed the track as opposed to an experienced rallycross driver,” he added.

“Silverstone is not necessarily everyone’s first choice, but if they get a little bit more imaginative with the circuit it would be good – to me it looks pretty bland at the moment.

“I don’t think Pat Doran (Lydden Hill owner) could have done anything more to keep the event at Lydden – the meeting last weekend was absolutely extraordinary and the planning situation has certainly not helped.”

Nobody from MSV was available for comment.

On Tuesday, the Silverstone rallycross circuit was tested for the first time.

Frenchman Guerlain Chicherit, who will drive a Renault Megane in next year’s world championship, drove his former Jérôme Grosset-Janin Renault Clio at the event.

“I really love the circuit,” he said.

“I love driving on the dirt and it is mostly dirt for now which is good for me.

"It is all technical bends, they need to bring in a sweeping bend..." - Ollie O'Donovan

“It is very technical and to go fast around here you will have to drive very technically – it was a good chance to have a drive on the circuit.”

But current British Rallycross champion Dan Rooke, who drove an RX2 machine at the test, thinks the track is too short.

“There aren’t any overtaking spots because it is corner followed by corner and it seems very single-file,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say there is a great chance of overtaking, which is a shame, but there is time to develop it.

“I have enjoyed being out here, though, and it is good fun to drive and very challenging.”

Former British Rallycross champion Ollie O’Donovan agreed with Welch, saying the circuit needs a long corner on the gravel.

“It is all technical bends, they need to bring in a sweeping bend,” he said.

“It is more a circuit for the drivers than spectators – and the joker lap needs to be just after the start to help with damage.

“But the gravel is holding up exceptionally well and it is very good.”

British Rallycross Supercar competitor Steve Hill, who was the first driver to test the circuit two weeks’ ago in his Mitsubishi Evo X, says the track is like no other in Britain.

“It is fairly flat and everything is loose at the minute so until we see a bit of Tarmac you can’t get a feel,” he said.

“They need to get the crowd closer somehow as when you see a car on the flat you do not get the same feel.

“At Lydden, you can tell a driver where they are going right or wrong as you can see.”

For a full report of Lydden's last World Rallycross meeting, click here.

The SpeedMachine festival will be held at Silverstone on May 25-27. For details, visit www.speedmachine.com.