History of Croft

Croft Circuit played host to many major events, but what is there to know about their history?

(Image credit to Motorsport Timing)

Croft Circuit is located near Dalton-on-Tees in North Yorkshire. There were records of racing at Croft which date back to the 1920s but it was after WW2 that Croft became a significant motorsport venue.

During the late 1940s/ early 1950s, the Darlington & District Motor Club held Motor Race Meetings on various layouts. It was in 1962 that Bruce Ropner and others bought half the venue at a public auction and completed a track on the site in mid 1964. At the end of 1967 Croft began hosting Rallycross which was considered a winter sport so circuit racing continued. However it was by 1981 that the profitability had fallen and due to Croft requiring total resurfacing, the circuit closed to circuit racing.

Following this, Croft reopened and played host to the FIA Internations-Cup events in 1987 and 1990. The circuit also hosted the 1994 British round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship.

Croft was extended in 1997 to a length of 3.423 km (2.127 mi) and there were new pits as well as a paddock complex and spectator areas were constructed. Both BTCC (British Touring Car Championship) and BSB (British Superbike Championship) came to the circuit not long after the extension with BSB racing at Croft until 2011. BTCC remains a regular feature on the calendar.

Other than BTCC, Croft Circuit currently also hosts the TCR UK Touring Car Championship.

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