Less than a week after testing at Lydden Hill it has been announced that Jacques Villeneuve will not be racing in the UK round of the FIA World Rallycross Championship.

He will instead be racing in the prestigious Indy 500 race after being released by Albatec Racing to take part in the race.

Villeneuve is no stranger to the Indycar scene having been crowned Champion in 1995, wining at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway that year. He will compete in the first round of the World RX in Portugal before heading straight to America for the Indy 500.

Speaking about missing the Lydden Hill round, Villeneuve said: “Of course I’m disappointed not to be racing at Lydden Hill, the team’s home event, particularly after such a great test at the circuit on Saturday. However I’ve always wanted to do the Indy 500 one more time and this offer is just too good to turn down.

“After the test in Kent, it really fired me up for the FIA World Rallycross Championship, and I remain committed to giving my very best to the team and the Championship, starting at the opening round in Portugal. However I’m a racer, with a passion for racing, and the Indy 500 is without question the biggest event on the motorsport calendar – not many drivers get the chance to drive on that track, and for me it’s a personal challenge, with a first and second there already, I need to finish in the top two to keep up the average!”

Albatec Racing and Andy Scott will be announcing a replacement for Villeneuve for the UK round in due course, with the 24-year-old returning to the championship for round three in Norway.

Reflecting on letting Villeneuve miss the UK round, Scott said: “Naturally we’re disappointed that Jacques will miss our home event, however what driver in the world would or could turn down the opportunity to race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He’s a racer through and through and returning to tackle the Indy 500 is simply too good a chance for him to miss. We knew this was a possibility as he’d already expressed an interest in doing that one event, so I’m pleased he gets the chance to go for the double win.

“It’s all credit to Jacques that he’s considered as a potential Indy 500 winner and we all wish Jacques, Sam Schmidt and the entire Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team the very best for the weekend. Jacques will return to rallycross action in the third round of World RX at Norway, hopefully as the new Indy 500 Champion, while we have been in discussion with several other star drivers to take over his car at Lydden Hill.”