Oh no! These Lancia Delta Evo-e RXs have been accidentally cremated

Galling news to bring you from Lydden Hill: both of these achingly cool Lancia Delta Evo-e RXs - built by Special One Racing to compete in the RX1e class of the World Rallycross championship - have gone up in flames.

The devastating fire broke out on Friday morning while the cars were being charged. The team believes the blaze began on Sebastian Loeb’s #9 car before spreading to Gerlain Chicherit’s #36 car and one of its two workshop trucks.

The area was quickly evacuated but despite the best efforts of the fire brigade, none of the vehicles could be salvaged.

The FIA opened an urgent investigation to determine the cause of the incident, and while video evidence suggested “the fire was initiated at the battery” it was decided that “the investigation has not progressed far enough to determine a root cause for the failure”.

As such, all racing in the electric RX1e category was cancelled for the weekend.

“After the fire that broke out under the structure housing our two cars, the first essential piece of news was that no member of the team was injured,” said nine-time WRC champ Loeb.

“My thoughts go out to all the men and women who have worked or are working on this project with such determination and passion, and who have seen everything go up in smoke in just a few moments.”

Teammate Chicherit added: “Watching our cars go up in smoke was a particularly painful moment for me and for the whole team, who had been investing so much love and energy in this programme for months.

"I would like to express my admiration and pride in each and every member of the team for having acted correctly and courageously from the beginning to the end of the fire.”

Understandably Special One Racing has had to pull out of the final four rounds of the season. What a shame for everyone involved.