Croft


Address:

Croft Circuit & Historic Motorsport Ltd
Vince Moor East
Croft-on-Tees
Nr Darlington
Co Durham
DL2 2PN

Tel: 01325 721815     Fax: 01325 721819

Track History

Some form of motorsport has taken place at Croft since 1927, interrupted by World War II when it was commissioned as an airfield for Bomber Command and opened in October 1941.

Motor racing resumed in 1950 on a 1.64 mile circuit, similar to that shown left. The Jim Clark Esses were known as The Esses, the Hangar Complex was a piece of straight, and the Hawthorn Bend was a larger loop to the top of the map. Racing continued through the 1970s on the 1.8 mile circuit showed left. However, in the early 1980s the ownership of the track changed, and tarmac racing ceased in 1981, Rallycross taking over instead.

However, in 1994 tarmac racing resumed, and for 1997 the track was reprofiled to the 2.127 mile track shown above.

A lap of Croft

with James Kaye in a Honda Accord Supertouring

Over the start-finish straight the road is very wide and kinks slightly to the left. Tower Bend is tight on entry, but opens up on the exit. In a touring car, it would be taken in third gear.

The Jim Clark Esses are very quick - similar to Craner Curves at Donington, but without the downhill gradient. The road is very flat and the very brave drivers would be looking to take them flat out.

After Barcroft, which is a fast right hander like Old Paddock at Castle Combe, comes Sunny Bend which is very wide on entry. The camber is with you as you enter the corner, but drops away at the exit.

The Hanger Complex is just an ordinary chicane used to slow the cars down, but then you come to the flick left and long exit right of Hawthorn Bend. The exit speed is high, which makes the approach to the next chicane quick. There is lots of road on the exit to the chicane, so it makes it fast. This then leads out on to the start-finish straight again.