BTCC - Croft

The Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship visits Croft Circuit for Rounds 16-18 of the season. Croft Circuit sits near Dalton-on-Tees in North Yorkshire, approximately six miles south of Darlington. This venue serves as a major motorsport location in the North East of England. The BTCC returns to Croft for three races that often play a key role in shaping the championship battle.

Croft Circuit measures 2.127 miles in length and features 16 turns. The layout combines high-speed straights with tight, technical corners. Drivers navigate gradient changes throughout the lap. The circuit demands precision and skill. Notable sections include the Jim Clark Esses and Barcroft Bend. Run-off areas remain limited, which increases the challenge. The track traditionally favors rear-wheel-drive cars.

Top BTCC drivers compete at Croft across three races on Sunday. Aiden Moffat, Ash Sutton, Tom Ingram, Jake Hill, and Josh Cook represent some of the leading contenders. Manufacturers including BMW, Ford, Hyundai, Toyota, and Honda bring their touring cars to the circuit. Local drivers Dan Cammish, Dan Lloyd, Senna Proctor, and Sam Osbourne add regional interest to the event. The competition follows Next Generation Touring Car regulations, which were introduced in 2011 to create balanced racing between independent teams and manufacturer-backed entries.

The 2025 season brings significant technical changes to the BTCC. The championship switches to 100% sustainable fuel, making it the first UK championship to adopt fossil-free fuel. Teams derive this fuel from synthetic and biological sources. Cars will be approximately 55kg lighter as a result. All competing vehicles use 2-litre turbo-charged engines producing over 350bhp. Teams can choose between TOCA's NGTC-spec engine or develop their own power unit. Any BTCC-homologated engine can be used in any model. Cosworth continues to manage the turbo boost deployment system. The top seven cars in the championship receive reduced boost time during qualifying and races on a sliding scale.

Croft Circuit has a rich motorsport heritage. Racing at Croft dates back to the 1920s. The site served as RAF Croft during World War II, housing Wellington, Lancaster, Whitley, Stirling, and Halifax bombers. The verges along the public access road stored military equipment during the war. Darlington & District Motor Club held race meetings in the late 1940s and 1950s. Bruce Ropner and other enthusiasts bought half the venue in 1962 and completed the track in July 1964. The first meeting in August 1964 attracted between 30,000 and 50,000 people. The circuit closed in 1981 and operated mainly as a rallycross venue before reopening for racing in 1997. Croft hosted FIA Inter-nations Cup events in 1987 and 1990, plus the 1994 British round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship.

The Croft BTCC event features support races including Ginetta Juniors, Porsche Carrera Cup, and Mini Challenge. Saturday includes free practice sessions, qualifying, and support races. Sunday delivers three BTCC races plus additional support series action. Fans can access pit walk and autograph sessions subject to the schedule. ITV4 and ITVX provide live coverage in the UK, with qualifying available on ITVX. YouTube streams full live race days worldwide, excluding the UK and North America.

Croft Circuit offers facilities for race attendees. Free parking is available on site. The venue provides toilets with baby changing facilities, a medical center, food and drink outlets, and merchandise stalls. Hospitality suites include Hangar 50. Noise-related legal action from local residents between 2000 and 2009 resulted in an injunction limiting noisy days to 40 per year.

This BTCC race at Croft promises close competition on a demanding circuit. The technical layout tests driver skill while the championship battle intensifies. Three races across one day provide multiple opportunities for position changes and strategic decisions. The switch to sustainable fuel marks a new chapter for British touring car racing. Croft Circuit's flowing layout and challenging corners create opportunities for overtaking and drama. This event forms an important part of the BTCC season as teams and drivers push for championship points.