Description: Croft circuit is situated in North Yorkshire.
Crift began it's life in the 1920's but it was not untill after the war that it really became a racing circuit like so many ex war bases and airfields. After World War II it was set to be an Aero club when the lease was aquired for it in 1947, but this venture didn't "take off".
After the Aero club closed down drivers would come onto the track to make use of the track.
In 1962 half the airfield was baught at auction by Bruce Ropner and some of his motor racing friends. He was granted permission to create a racing circuit on the land and in 1964 the Croft circuit was completed.
The first race at Croft was on 3rd August 1964.
In 1997 the Croft circuit was extended and developed 


It was Liverpool saloon car driver, Robin Smith (driving a Lotus Cortina) who won the Daily Mirror Trophy, kick starting Croft's career in national motor sport.
Several drivers racing in that opening programme went on to become firm favourites with the Croft crowds. Tony Dean, then a novice with an F3 Lotus 31, progressed successfully to international sports car racing, Canam and F5000 and often ran at Croft with a mouth-watering succession of Porsche, Ferrari, Brabham, McLaren and Chevron exotics.
Andy Barton was also a favourite with spectators. From the first meeting - racing a Morris 1000 in shorts, T-shirt and sandshoes - 'Iron Man Andy' clocked up more than 60 victories at Croft.
The Newburn garage owner incurred numerous injuries throughout his career, but was always permanent fixture. "If you didn't have at least three accidents per season, you weren't trying hard enough," he said.
By 1970 the then Guards International Trophy catered for the frantically close F3 racing of the time, with victory falling to future Brabham Grand Prix winner Carlos Pace. The following year, future world champion, James Hunt was in the running. His next visit to Croft, however, was as a VIP guest.
As the 1970s wore on, Croft faced increasingly strong competition from circuits in the south, as Brands Hatch and Silverstone strengthened their grasp on Britain's leading international events Croft stagnated.
Nevertheless many seasons of club and national championship racing continued with BARC, BRSCC, DDMC and Nottingham Sports Car Club organising meetings. Basic facilities did not deter devoted motor sport drivers and enthusiasts. Current World Formula One champion, Damon Hill, who cut his racing teeth on motorcycles before launching his successfully F1 career, was a familiar face at Croft. As were Barry Sheene and Nikki Lauda, who enjoyed the circuit's variety and interesting design.
In 1981, Croft retired from tarmac racing in favour of the increasingly popular sport of Rallycross.
Former British and European Champion Will Gollop says: "The loose surface was vital to a good Rallycross track and it was always very good at Croft. The track was staggeringly quick and needed a lot of concentration."
With a growing reputation, Croft began to look towards international events. In November 1987 the FIA Inter -Nations Cup meeting came to Croft and was heralded, by the 10,000 or so there, as one of the best Rallycross events ever staged in Britain.
Less than three years later the event returned to Croft and this time boasted an even greater entry as the mighty Norwegian squad - missing in '87 - made their debut.
From there it was onwards and upwards for Croft, hosting the British Round of the FIA European Championship. And in June of 1994 the cream of Europe returned to Croft and fought for ERC points. More than 10,000 spectators cheered as they were treated to great action as Britons made it on the podium in all three classes - winning two of them.
Media attention was higher than at any time before. So the decision by the current circuit owner, was made for Croft to return to tarmac racing.
With the renaissance of Croft in 1995, the circuit picked up much where it left off, with some well-supported club-level meetings for cars and motorcycles but the circuit needed to host higher profile events, and sights were set on the British Touring Car Championship
In 1997 the circuit underwent a major transformation - extending the circuit to 2.127 miles - sixty per cent of the new circuit is built on old runways, with foundations and drainage already in place- constructing a control tower, pit and paddock complex and landscaping new trackside spectator area..

