THE return of the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship to Croft Circuit always provides one of the highlights of the motorsport calendar in the North-East and North Yorkshire, but this weekend’s action promises to be even more evocative than usual.
This weekend’s racing marks the 20th anniversary of Croft re-joining the Touring Car calendar after an absence of some 26 years, and some of the series’ biggest stars have been reminiscing about their experiences on the North Yorkshire circuit.
Given the events of the last week, perhaps it is fitting that this weekend’s round marks the 20th anniversary. Then, as now, Croft was subjected to a deluge in the build-up to race weekend, with torrential rain at one stage threatening the cancellation of both days of racing.
The adverse conditions forced the abandonment of qualifying, and it was only a herculean effort to pump water off the track that enabled Sunday’s two races to go ahead, with grid positions based on championship order.
Alain Menu won both of them in front of an appreciative crowd, en route to lifting the championship laurels at the end of the season – the first of two BTCC titles for the Swiss ace.
ON THE MENU: Alain Menu won both races as Croft returned to the BTCC calendar in 1997
“I always enjoyed racing at Croft and have good memories of the circuit,” said Menu. “It’s an interesting track to drive, with a fun blend of different types of corners."
Also on the grid that day in 1997 – and a driver never shy of doing a rain dance given his wet-weather prowess – was Menu’s former team-mate and current ITV4 commentator Tim Harvey, who also has a great deal of affection for the North-East venue.
“Croft is a fantastic circuit and unlike anywhere else,” said Harvey, the 1992 BTCC champion. “I’ve been lucky enough to race there in the BTCC and Porsche Carrera Cup GB and have some fabulous memories of the place. It’s somewhere I’m very fond of.
“I love the track - it has a great mix of fast corners through the Jim Clark Esses round the back, the wonderful technical section comprising Barcroft and Sunny In and the hairpin which is always a challenge, because you want to brake late but you can so easily ruin the lap and a good exit is very important for the start-finish line.
“It’s a great driving circuit – it’s good for the drivers, it’s good for the engineers and it creates exciting racing and lots of overtaking. We always get a great crowd there as well. I look forward to returning to Croft for many years to come.”
Matt Neal had yet to truly break into the BTCC big-time back in 1997, when he was still competing as a family-run privateer entry. Twenty years on, and the three-time champion has no fewer than 60 race victories to his credit – equal-second on the all-time list – six of which have come at Croft.
“I had the pleasure two decades ago of participating in Croft’s BTCC resurgence over the course of what was a very wet weekend,” said Neal, of Halfords Yuasa Racing. “It’s been 20 years on the bounce now and I’m looking forward to going back.
“For a driver, you’ve got the really technical section and then the high-speed stuff through the Esses and Barcroft out the back, which isn’t for the faint-hearted – you’ve properly got to hold on!
“I love going up to the North-East and Croft has always been a special place for me. The fans can get really close to the action and smell the burning rubber and engine oil and on a nice day, the backdrop is absolutely beautiful.”
Neal’s six wins pale are eclipsed by the astonishing 11 triumphs tallied by Team BMW adversary Colin Turkington, who has earned the nickname ‘King of Croft’ for his unrivalled mastery of the track.
STAR PERFORMER: Colin Turkington is nicknamed the 'King of Croft' thanks to his record at the circuit
“I have always loved Croft,” said the Northern Irishman. “It’s a great circuit – fast but also technical – and I clicked with it straightaway, even in my early career before touring cars. There’s a real feel-good factor at Croft - the enthusiastic crowd loves it when the BTCC comes to town.
“There’s no shortage of passion for touring cars at Croft, and through the first and last parts of the lap, fans can get right on top of the action, which gives the event that extra buzz.”
Twenty years ago, the BTCC came back to Croft and despite the best efforts of the British weather, the show went on. Two decades later, and even if the rain is still falling, it is still going strong.
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