Croft Circuit

Circuit guide by Chris Pollitt · dates updated 2 November 2026

Croft was RAF Croft during the Second World War, a bomber airfield south of Darlington, and the race track was finished in July 1964. It spent years as a rallycross venue after circuit racing stopped in 1981, then came back when it was extended to 3.423km in 1997. The BTCC has been coming ever since, and British Superbikes raced here from 2004 to 2011. It's quick, a bit bumpy, and has more flow and elevation than you'd expect from an old airfield.

For track days, it's the main venue for the North East and a good alternative to driving all the way to Cadwell or Oulton. Both cars and bikes run here. The thing to understand before booking is the noise. After a court case in 2009, the circuit is limited to 40 noisy days a year, and the rest are quiet days with a very low 88dB limit. Turn up with a loud car on a quiet day and you won't be going out. Novices are fine here, but the bumps and fast corners reward a bit of experience.

A lap of Croft Circuit

Layout: Main Circuit, 3.423 km (2.13 miles)

Clervaux is the first corner after the start straight. It's a right-hander of about 90 degrees with marker boards on the left. Brake hard in a straight line, trail off as you turn in, and get back on the power early, because a good exit sets you up for the run down to Hawthorn. Hawthorn has a little left kink first that you can mostly ignore. Focus on the right-hand apex, wait for it, and clip the inside kerb late. The surface is bumpy through here, which bike riders feel the most.

The Chicane is a quick right then left, flat or close to it in most cars. Treat it as an acceleration zone, use the right kerb then the left, and don't snatch the throttle on a bike at full lean. Then comes Tower, the hardest corner on the lap. You brake downhill over a crest around the 100m board, which makes the car feel light. Don't turn in too early, load the car gently, and carry speed to the exit kerb.

The Jim Clark Esses are a fast left-right flick that's flat in a lot of cars if you keep your steering inputs smooth. Run wide on the first part and you'll miss the second. Barcroft, the fastest corner on the circuit, comes next. It's hard to see until you're close, so most road cars need a lift or a light brush of the brakes. Don't worry too much about speed here. Focus on getting the car straight for Sunny.

Sunny In and Sunny Out are a long double-apex bend that's tricky to brake for, as the car is still settling from Barcroft and the approach is bumpy. Locking a wheel on the downshift is easy. Then the Complex: a quick left, which bites on cold rear tyres, followed by a right where you brake around halfway along the second left-side kerb. Finish with the Hairpin, a tight, slow corner. Apex late, stay just off the kerb, and unwind the steering early to get a good drive down the start straight.

Track day tips

• Check whether your date is a noisy day or a quiet day before you book. The 88dB quiet-day limit rules out a lot of modified cars and bikes.
• Tower is where people lose most time and most confidence. Brake in a straight line before the crest and build speed up over the sessions.
• Croft is tough on tyres, especially on front-wheel-drive cars. Avoid locking up on entry and spinning up out of the Hairpin.
• Let the car settle after Barcroft before you brake for Sunny In. The bumps on the approach catch out anyone braking late.
• The Complex left-hander bites on cold tyres, so take it easy on the out lap.
• On a bike, Hawthorn and the Chicane exit are bumpy. Stay smooth on the throttle while you're still leant over.

Getting there

Croft sits on West Lane near Dalton-on-Tees, a few miles south of Darlington. Most people come up the A1(M) and head towards Darlington on the A66(M) before following the signs south, or put DL2 2PL in the sat nav. Darlington railway station is about 12 minutes away by taxi, and Teesside International Airport is close by. There are hotels in Darlington and along the A1 corridor, and Scotch Corner is handy for fuel and food.