British Touring Cars Roll Into Croft For The Big One
Croft Circuit welcomes the biggest meeting of the season when rounds 16, 17 and 18 of the 2024 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship take place at the North Yorkshire circuit next weekend (27/28 July).
Two days of top-class wheel-to-wheel action begins on Saturday when the UK’s leading car series heads north following the previous round at Oulton Park last month and a brief summer break.
Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport BMW’s Jake Hill tops the Drivers’ standings with a narrow four-point advantage after taking victory in the final race at the previous round. The Kent driver is proving to be a force to be reckoned with this season with five victories from nine races.
Former champion Tom Ingram occupies second spot after also securing a win last time out in the Team Bristol Street Motors Hyundai i30N and will be looking to add to his points tally at Croft whereas four-times and defending champion Ash Sutton (NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus) holds third position just 20 points behind Ingram.
Sutton’s teammate, Yorkshireman Dan Cammish from Leeds is in fourth spot as he heads back to his home circuit ahead of LKQ Euro Car Parts with SYNETIQ driver Josh Cook and ‘King of Croft’ and Team BMW driver Colin Turkington, who currently has a total of 14 victories and the lap record at Croft.
As well as the three BTCC races all of which take place on Sunday, there will be several support series battling it out across the two days including the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain, the CTCRC Pre66 Classic Touring Car Championship, The Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE and Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain.
In the Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain, 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, whilst Hartlepool driver Dominic Wheatley will be hoping for success at his home track too in the Vertu Motors MINI CHALLENGE. Meanwhile, Huddersfield’s former BTCC race winner at Croft, Daniel Lloyd, is the region’s only representative in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB class.
Two of Croft Circuit’s professional driving instructors will square off when both Phil House from Harrogate and Scottish driver Barry Sime contest the CTCRC Everard Garage Equipment Pre-66 Touring Car Championship in a pair of classic Minis. Also included in the 35-strong field is former BTCC driver Simon Blanckley from Durham in a BMW along with other star names including ex F1 and Indy Car ace Max Chilton and Le Mans 24 Hour winner Guy Smith in a pair of Ford Cortinas plus another former BTCC driver, Sam Tordoff (Ford Falcon).
On Saturday, the action starts at 9.30am with free practice for the BTCC followed by a packed day of qualifying and the first of four races starting at 13.45. Fans can get up close to the racing stars on Sunday morning when a pitlane walkabout takes place at 10.30am with a chance to meet the drivers, before the action commences at 12.05 with the first of the BTCC races followed by the remaining eight races.
Adult admission prices are £20 for Saturday, £37 for Sunday and £55 for a weekend ticket. Prices for 13 to 15-year-olds cost £12 on Sunday or £15 for a weekend ticket and all accompanied children aged 12 and under go free. Parking and paddock access is free too, and limited-edition souvenir programmes, produced locally in Northallerton, are on sale at £5. Seating for the grandstand has sold out.
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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