Croft Circuit
Croft Circuit Notes:
Croft Circuit is a motorsport facility located near Dalton-on-Tees in North Yorkshire, England, approximately six miles south of Darlington. The circuit's history dates back to 1940 when 160 acres of farmland were purchased to build RAF Croft, an airfield that served as a bomber base during World War II, housing Wellington, Lancaster, Whitley, Stirling, and Halifax bombers. The first records of racing at Croft date to the 1920s, but significant motorsport activity began after World War II.
In 1947, businessman John Neasham acquired the lease and formed Darlington and District Aero Club, which operated until 1952. During the late 1940s through the 1950s, Darlington & District Motor Club held motor race meetings on various layouts using the runways and perimeter roads. In 1962, Bruce Ropner and fellow enthusiasts purchased half the venue and completed a dedicated race track in July 1964. The first meeting in August 1964 attracted between 30,000 and 50,000 spectators. The circuit closed in 1981 due to profitability issues and required resurfacing, operating predominantly as a rallycross venue from the late 1960s onwards, hosting FIA events including the 1987 and 1990 Inter-nations Cup and the 1994 British round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship. The circuit reopened for circuit racing in 1997 after redevelopment. The current tarmac circuit measures 2.127 miles (3.423 km) with 16 turns and holds an FIA-3 rating. Two shorter club configurations exist: Club Circuit A at 1.241 miles (1.997 km) and Club Circuit B at 0.950 miles (1.529 km). Croft has hosted major races since 1996, including the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) and support series. A legal battle from local residents (2000-2009) resulted in an injunction limiting "noisy days" to 40 per year.
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