Croft Instructors Set For Touring Car Battle

The biggest meeting of the season takes place at Croft Circuit in less than two weeks’ time and as well as the spectacle of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, there is added local interest in a couple of support categories.

In the Porsche Sprint Challenge, local drivers and teammates Max Coates from Scorton and Northallerton’s Ethan Hammerton take to the track in their respective Team Omologato by Graves Motorsport Porsche Caymans in the Porsche Sprint Challenge where they will do battle over three races throughout the weekend.

Meanwhile, two of Croft Circuit’s other professional driving instructors will square off in something a little less powerful when both Phil House and Barry Sime contest the CTCRC Everard Garage Equipment Pre-66 Touring Car Championship in a pair of classic Minis.

The support classes are part of a weekend feast at the North Yorkshire track featuring both modern and classic cars and will see House, from Harrogate, square off with Glaswegian Sime in the three races over the two days.

Barry Sime: “Supporting the Croft BTCC meeting with the Pre-66 races is a dream come true for me. My dad Jimmy (and fellow Croft instructor) raced this very car in the 1960s and 1970s at Croft, so it’s even more special for the Sime family to race here, especially as we’ve been instructing here for over 20 years! There’s a fair bit of pressure to be one of the leading Minis having won both Pre-66 races outright last year, but Phil has won many races around here also, so with ex BTCC stars in the race, it’s going to be exciting in and out of the car.”

Phil House: “I’ve been good friends with Barry for over 20 years now and we have instructed together at Croft for some time. I have been very lucky to win a few championships along the way, both on the circuit and in rallying now. After a few years of success in a Lotus Cortina I bought a pre-66 Mini Cooper S so it will be great to race against someone you can truly trust. The other benefit is it does spur us on to beat each other and there is nothing better than racing in front of a big crowd at our home circuit.”

Also in action in the three CTCRC Everard Garage Equipment Pre-66 Touring Car Championship races will be a pair of Hillman Imps taking part, one being driven by James Ibbotson and the other by Mike Loveland. Both cars, alongside their other sponsors, are being supported by The Imp Club – www.theimpclub.co.uk.

Between 1970 and 1972 Bill McGovern took his George Bevan prepared Sunbeam Imp to overall British Touring Car Championship wins, which was a phenomenal achievement for one of the smallest cars that took part in the series. The original car has now been restored and is in action again throughout the year at classic race events.

The Club is a friendly band of classic car enthusiasts who are ‘Keeping The Imp Alive’ and can be found at a display in the centre field, so search them out and have a browse and a chat.

Further information and advance ticket sales are on sale now here

Croft Circuit 2024 Calendar

July 27/28 - Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship Meeting
August 10/11 – Historic Festival Weekend and Show
August 24/25 - Darlington & District Motor Club Battle of Britain Race Meeting
September 7/8 - British Automobile Racing Club Mini Festival
September 21/22 - 750 Motor Club Car Meeting
November 24 – Swift Signs & Shirts Winter Stages Rally