Following the venue’s sale to an unnamed investor, Rockingham Motor Speedway have confirmed that motorsport events will cease at the end of the 2018 season.

Rumours surrounding the circuits future have intensified in recent months with news in mid-August confirming that the Corby-based site would be sold.

Opened by the Queen in 2001, Rockingham has staged all manner of championships down the years, all of them utilising the raft of circuit configurations on offer. In recent years the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship has been one of the popular draws, serving up a feast of entertainment upon every visit.

The British Automobile Racing Club has also been regular visitor to Rockingham too, with a raft of championships battling it out. The Pickup Truck Racing Championship remains the only series to use the oval layout of the circuit whilst the Trade Team Citroen C1 Challenge made history earlier this year by staging its inaugural 24hr race at the track.

Commenting on the news that motorsport will cease, Rockingham Motor Speedway CEO Peter Hardman told the Northamptonshire Telegraph: “The team at Rockingham have done a tremendous job running the circuit and the facility over the last five years.

“However, it has been reluctantly concluded that motorsport activities are unlikely to produce an economic return for the new owners when set against the acquisition cost of the land.

“All events to the end of 2018 will be run with the professionalism and enthusiasm that are the hallmark of Rockingham, but circuit activities will cease from the beginning of 2019.”

Ian Watson, BARC General Manager, added: “The BARC is hugely disappointed to lose Rockingham from the limited number of venues available for use within the UK.

“This is further compounded by the fact that the BARC was involved in the initial development of the track from its inception, through the build process and the running of the first event so feels directly linked to the venue in a number of ways.”

The BARC’s final two visits to Rockingham takes place on August 31/September 2 and September 22/23 respectively