When was the track built?

Born from RAF Croft, the site hosted club races on the Neasham airfield course from 1948. A purpose-built circuit was completed in July 1964 and reopened after upgrades in 1995, before a major 1997 redevelopment extended the lap to 2.127 miles with new pits, paddock and spectator banks to lure top national series.

When was its first race?

The modern circuit’s first race meeting was 3 August 1964. Racing heritage on the airfield dates to 1948, when Darlington & District MC began organizing car and bike meetings.

What's the circuit like?

• Fast entries, heavy stops: The lap knits together long full-throttle sections with big braking at the Chicane and Tower, punishing late brakers and poor traction.
• Signature flow: Barcroft into Sunny In - Sunny Out is the heart-in-mouth sequence where commitment and car balance make lap time.
• Technical finale: The Complex and tight Hairpin compress the field for passes and set up the run to the line.
• Benchmark pace: Sergio Pérez’s 1:13.656 (F3) stands as the outright race-lap mark, while modern BTCC qualifying dips to low 1:21s.

Lap records and benchmarks (by series)

• F3 - race lap: 1:13.656 - Sergio Pérez, Dallara F308, 2008.
• British GT - GT1 race lap (historic): 1:16.759 - Tim Sugden, McLaren F1 GTR, 1999.
• Porsche Carrera Cup GB - race lap (recent): 1:18.629 - Will Martin (992), 2025.
• BSB Superbike - race lap: 1:19.695 - Ryuichi Kiyonari, 2007.
• BTCC - recent qualifying: 1:21.072 - Colin Turkington, 2024 pole.

Why go?

Croft is the North East’s headline race weekend with BTCC as the star attraction. The layout delivers elbows-out tin-top action, rapid club racing and superb viewing banks close to the track, and its airfield DNA means you feel the speed from Barcroft through Sunny to the Complex.

Where's the best place to watch?

• Clervaux grandstand: Overlooks T1 and the Hawthorn complex for first-lap scrapping and restart drama.
• Hawthorn - Chicane banking: Classic out-brake zone with paint-trading on BTCC weekends.
• Tower Bend: Deep braking after the back straight - decisive passes into the infield.
• Complex - Hairpin: Tightest sequence on the lap, great for photos and last-lap lunges.

Not just one series - headline events at Croft

BTCC: A summer staple since 1997 with capacity crowds and three sprint races.

TCR UK and national GT/touring: Strong support cards keep the action constant through the weekend.

Rallycross heritage: From the 1980s through 1990s, Croft was the UK’s rallycross hub and still hosts high-profile events.