This year's Champ Car race at Rockingham will still go ahead, despite the cancellation of Cart's other European race in Germany.

The Rockingham event was believed to be under threat after promoters pulled the plug on the German 500 due to financial problems.

However, Rockingham chief executive David Grace insisted that the September race will take place, even inviting disappointed German Cart fans to visit Northamptonshire instead.

Grace said: "I feel very sorry for all the team at EuroSpeedway Lausitz. I know from our own experience just how hard they will have worked to try to make the race a success.

"It is a tragedy that the German government officials were unable to offer financial support to this world-class event.

"On the brighter side, as the sole venue in Europe this year, we are already making plans with Cart and EuroSpeedway to welcome many of the German race fans to Rockingham instead."

The North-American-based Championship is in only its second year of European competition.

Last year's Rockingham 500 was won in breathtaking fashion by Brazil's Gil de Ferran, who overtook the leader on the last corner of the last lap.