Croft Circuit
Croft Circuit at a glance
- Location
- Darlington, North Yorkshire
- Type
- road course
- Length
- 3.423 km (2.127 mi)
- Turns
- 16
- Direction
- clockwise
- Surface
- asphalt
- Opened
- 1964
- Owner
- British Automobile Racing Club (BARC)
- Phone
- +44 1325 721815
- Website
- croftcircuit.co.uk
Track map and layout
Croft is built on the runways and perimeter roads of a former RAF and USAAF airfield on the Yorkshire/County Durham border, and its 2.127-mile, 16-turn lap keeps a fast, flowing character that rewards momentum over hard braking. The circuit first raced in 1964 before closing in 1981 and being revived in 1995, reopening to national-level racing with an extended, reconfigured 16-turn layout in 1997. A shorter Club Circuit A, cutting out the Jim Clark Esses and Sunny complex, is also used for testing and smaller club meetings. Croft is one of the northernmost circuits on the British national racing calendar and is FIA Grade 3-licensed, hosting the BTCC every summer.
Named corners and sections
- Clervaux. The opening corner after the start-finish straight, taken at speed to set up the run into Hawthorn.
- Hawthorn Bend. A fast, sweeping right-hander early in the lap.
- Chicane. A tight left-right chicane that breaks up the circuit's faster sections.
- Tower Bend. A quick corner named for a former control tower near the site.
- Jim Clark Esses. A high-speed left-right flick named after the double World Champion, one of the circuit's signature sequences.
- Sunny In / Sunny Out. A long, two-part corner effectively treated as one continuous curve by drivers.
- Barcroft. A corner in the closing section of the lap leading back toward the start-finish straight.
Configurations
| Layout | Length | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Full Circuit (1997-present) | 3.42 km | Current 16-turn national layout used for BTCC and all major race meetings |
| Club Circuit A | 2.00 km | Shorter 8-turn layout used for testing and smaller club meetings |
Events and race weekends
Croft has held a round of the British Touring Car Championship every year since 1997, making it one of the series' longest-standing venues, and it also hosts Porsche Carrera Cup GB and TCR UK support races on the same weekend. British Superbikes has visited historically, and the circuit is a regular round of the British Rallycross Championship, run on a mixed tarmac/gravel layout using part of the main circuit. Club racing through the BARC and 750 Motor Club, plus the popular Mini Festival, fill out the rest of the calendar.
| Event | Series | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship | BTCC (plus Porsche Carrera Cup GB, TCR UK) | September | Long-running round; BTCC has raced at Croft every season since 1997 |
| Mini Festival | Club racing | June | Multi-class Mini race meeting |
| British Rallycross Championship round | Rallycross | — | Run on a mixed tarmac/gravel configuration |
Getting there and parking
Croft sits beside the A1(M) and A66 near Dalton-on-Tees, on the North Yorkshire/County Durham border a few miles south of Darlington. Darlington railway station, on the East Coast Main Line, is about four miles north and a short taxi ride away. Teesside International Airport is the closest airport, roughly eight miles and a 15-20 minute drive.
- Teesside International Airport (MME) · about 20 min drive
- Newcastle International Airport (NCL) · about 60 min drive
Parking
Free spectator car parking is available on-site for race weekends; arrive early for BTCC weekend, the circuit's busiest date of the year.
The A1(M) makes Croft an easy stop for visitors travelling between Yorkshire and Scotland; check the circuit's calendar before travelling, as many midweek dates are closed track days or testing.
Hotels and camping near Croft Circuit
Darlington, about four miles north, has the widest choice of hotels and is the most convenient base, with Scotch Corner and Richmond also within easy reach for those wanting somewhere smaller. Durham and Middlesbrough offer a larger pool of chain hotels for visitors happy to drive 20-30 minutes. Book well ahead for BTCC weekend, when accommodation across the Darlington and Teesside area sells out.
Where to look
Darlington (closest, widest choice), Scotch Corner and Richmond (smaller options, both under 20 minutes), and Durham or Middlesbrough for a larger selection further afield.
Camping
On-site track-day camping is available, priced per pitch per night (covering two people, with a small extra charge per additional person); caravans and motorhomes are permitted and campers can bring their car or bike onto the campsite.
RV
Caravans and motorhomes are accepted at the on-site campsite for track day and event weekends.
Track days, driving experiences and lap records
Croft runs a full programme of its own car and motorcycle track days and test days throughout the year, alongside junior driving experiences and a range of supercar driving experiences (Ferrari, Lamborghini, McLaren and others). National trackday brokers also list dates at the circuit for both cars and bikes.
Who runs days here
Lap records
| Category | Time | Driver | Car | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outright, Formula 3 | 1:13.656 | Sergio Perez | Formula 3 car | 2008 |
| BTCC (NGTC) | 1:21.150 | Tom Ingram | NGTC touring car | 2026 |
| Superbike | 1:19.695 | Ryuichi Kiyonari | Superbike | 2007 |
Spectator guide
Croft's flat, former-airfield layout gives good sightlines across several corners from banked spectator areas, particularly around the Jim Clark Esses and Sunny complex. Being in the north of England near the Pennines, weather can turn quickly, so visitors should come prepared for wind and rain even in summer.
Best places to watch
The banking around the Jim Clark Esses and Sunny In/Sunny Out complex gives views across several linked corners; the start-finish straight grandstand area is best for race starts and pit action.
Weather
- Jun-Aug: mild but changeable summer weather typical of North Yorkshire and County Durham
- Sep: generally cooler for BTCC weekend; pack for rain
History of Croft Circuit
An airfield on the Tees
Croft's roots go back to an airfield built for the RAF and later used by the USAAF during the Second World War, on flat land beside the River Tees near Dalton-on-Tees. Motor racing began there in August 1964, when the perimeter roads were laid out as a permanent circuit, and Croft built a steady following through the late 1960s and 1970s as a national circuit hosting saloon car and single-seater racing.
Closure and revival
Croft closed to racing in 1981 amid financial and noise-related pressures, and the site lay largely dormant through the 1980s and early 1990s. A revival effort brought racing back on 14 May 1995, and by 1997 the circuit had been substantially rebuilt and extended into its current 16-turn, 2.127-mile national layout, complete with new named sections such as the Jim Clark Esses. The British Automobile Racing Club took over ownership of the circuit in 2006 and has run it ever since.
Joining the national stage
The rebuilt circuit was granted an FIA Grade 3 licence and immediately attracted the British Touring Car Championship, which has held a round at Croft every season since 1997 - one of the longest unbroken runs of any circuit on the BTCC calendar. British Superbikes also raced there for a number of years, and the circuit became a fixture of the British Rallycross Championship using a mixed tarmac and gravel configuration.
Present day
Today Croft is one of the north of England's principal motorsport venues, combining its BTCC weekend and rallycross rounds with 750 Motor Club and BARC club racing, the popular Mini Festival, and a year-round programme of car and bike track days, driving experiences and testing. Its position beside the A1(M) keeps it well connected for visitors travelling the length of the country.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Croft Circuit?+
The full national layout used since 1997 is 2.127 miles (3.423km) with 16 turns. A shorter Club Circuit A, at 1.241 miles (1.997km) with 8 turns, is used for testing and some club meetings.
Does Croft host the BTCC?+
Yes. Croft has held a round of the British Touring Car Championship every season since 1997, one of the longest continuous runs of any circuit on the calendar, usually held in September alongside Porsche Carrera Cup GB and TCR UK.
Where are the best hotels near Croft Circuit?+
Darlington, about four miles north, has the widest choice of hotels. Scotch Corner and Richmond offer smaller options nearby, and Durham or Middlesbrough have a larger selection 20-30 minutes away.
Can you camp at Croft Circuit?+
Yes, on-site camping is available for track days and event weekends, priced per pitch per night, and caravans and motorhomes are permitted.
What is the nearest airport to Croft Circuit?+
Teesside International Airport is the closest, about eight miles and a 15-20 minute drive. Newcastle International Airport is a wider option roughly an hour away.
Can the public drive or ride Croft Circuit?+
Yes. Croft runs its own regular car and motorcycle track days and test days, plus supercar driving experiences, and is also used by national trackday booking sites.
Other tracks nearby
- Oliver's Mount · 78 km · road course
- Three Sisters Race Circuit · 127 km · road course
- Aintree Circuit · 141 km · road course
- Charterhall · 148 km · historic circuit (defunct)
- Oulton Park · 158 km · road course
- Cadwell Park · 161 km · road course
Facts checked against 6 sources including the official circuit website. Last reviewed 2026-09-10.