DRIVERS in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship had a successful test day at Croft last week, with spectators getting an early glimpse of what to expect when the series visits the North Yorkshire track in July.

All the top teams were in action at the second test session of the new season as they prepared themselves for the forthcoming campaign that gets under way at Donington Park later this month.

Excelr8 Motorsport’s Scottish contender, Ronan Pearson, set the fastest lap of the day in his Hyundai as he took the top spot ahead of the WSR-run BMWs of Jake Hill and Colin Turkington. As it turned wet in the afternoon, NAPA Racing UK driver and defending champion Ash Sutton set the pace in the tricky conditions.

Meanwhile, a wide variety of cars and championships will be in action when the budget-friendly 750 Motor Club returns to Croft Circuit with its action-packed racing programme this weekend.

A regular fixture at the North Yorkshire track, the Midlands-based club’s two-day event will see eight different series featuring a wide range of racing cars take to the tarmac across 16 races on Saturday and Sunday.

It is the opening round of the season for all the championships so competitors will be looking to make an impressive start to the campaign as the Formula Vee competitors contest their first two rounds on Saturday. Also featuring with one race on Saturday and two on Sunday will be the Locost series, which is set to highlight a packed grid of affordable competition cars.

The 5Club MX5 Cup cars will take to the start line with three races throughout the weekend, with the retro hatchbacks of the Classic Stock Hatch Championship also set to go wheel-to-wheel. There will also be the chance to see more than ten different models of Alfa Romeo in action as the Alfa Romeo Championship contenders face a double-header on both Saturday and Sunday.

The superbike-engined cars of the Sports 100 FT Cup will also show their pace on Saturday and Sunday, with Saturday’s programme also due to host a mini-endurance race featuring four classes of production sports and saloon cars in the Anglesey International Roadsports Series over 45 minutes, including a compulsory pitstop and optional driver switch.

It will be the turn of the Club Enduro championship on Sunday when a grid of production sports and saloon cars take part in a 150-minute showdown which includes two compulsory pitstops, for one or two-driver teams.

The action starts at 9.30am on Saturday and midday on Sunday. Adult admission costs £16.50 on both days in advance or £19 on the gate, with accompanied children aged 15 and under admitted free on both days. There is also free car parking and free paddock access.