Four of the leading lights from the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship have revealed just what makes Croft such a popular stop
Four of the leading lights from the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship have revealed just what makes Croft such a popular stop on the annual calendar – as the world’s most fiercely-contested tin-top series roars into the North Yorkshire circuit this weekend.
The BTCC is enjoying an ultra-competitive campaign with seven former champions and 13 race-winners in the bumper 31-strong field.
And there is clearly a great deal of affection for Croft within the BTCC fold.
Indeed both Árón Smith – the most recent winner following his race three victory at Oulton Park – and leading rookie Tom Ingram describe it as their favourite track in the country.
“Croft has a mix of everything from high-speed to low-speed, which makes it a real test of a chassis and a genuine challenge,” revealed Chrome Edition Restart Racing ace Smith.
“You need to have good rear stability and traction out of the final few hairpins.
“There are plenty of overtaking opportunities, too - you have to keep an eye on your mirrors everywhere, because you can go from first to 15th in a handful of corners.
“There’s always a huge turnout of fans at Croft, and it’s somewhere they can get into the paddock and really have a good look around the garages – simply watching it on TV doesn’t do it justice at all.
“All-round, Croft is one of the best circuits on the calendar with so many good spectating points, and I think we’ll see a lot of racing, bumping and banging – which is what the BTCC is renowned for.”
And Speedworks Motorsport star Ingram echoed: “Croft is exactly the kind of circuit I really enjoy driving.
“There’s a mid-speed section at the start of the lap, followed by a high-speed section round the back and it ends up with a really slow-speed section.
“That makes it a very technical track and a difficult one to get the car set-up right for, which is a challenge I relish.”
For MG KX Clubcard Fuel Save duo Jason Plato and Sam Tordoff, Croft is a local track and a meeting that both are eagerly anticipating.
The former is a four-times winner at the circuit, although having missed out on the podium there altogether last year, he is determined to keep his title challenge on-course with a return to the top step of the rostrum in 2014.
“Croft is kind of like my second home track having grown up in Newcastle,” explained the double BTCC champion. “The circuit has a fantastic blend of technical slow corners and some blindingly quick ones, which test the drivers to the max.
“I love the annual trip up north. The crowd there loves the BTCC and the BTCC loves Croft.”
“I’ve never seemed to have much luck at Croft, but I love going there,” added Tordoff, from Bradford, who sits eighth in the BTCC standings.
“It’s my local track and I always enjoy a lot of support there from sponsors, family and friends.
“It’s in a great part of the world, and it’s a crying shame that we don’t go there more often.
“I’m really looking forward to the weekend, and hopefully I can enjoy a change of fortunes on home turf.”
Pirtek Racing’s Andrew Jordan dropped from first to third in the standings after his worst event since 2011 last time out at Oulton Park.
That put eBay Motors’ Irish ace Colin Turkington top ofthe points chart with Honda Yuasa Racing’s Gordon Shedden second going into the Croft rounds.
In addition to the BTCC, there will be action from the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, Michelin Ginetta GT4 Supercup and Ginetta Junior Championship, the Dunlop MSA Formula Ford Championship of Great Britain and the Renault UK Clio Cup.
Adult admission prices are £13 for Saturday or £27 for Sunday.
Accompanied children aged 15 and under are admitted free.
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