Croft circuit
Croft Circuit is a located near Dalton-on-Tees and is based on the lands of an airfield. It became a significant motorsport venue after the Second World War. With 12 corners and a total length of 2.1 miles (3.4km), Croft circuit currently hosts motorsport events like British Touring Car Championship, British Rallycross and Pickup Truck Racing race series.
Corner one – Cleraux
Once you go past the light gantry on the pit straight you need to start easing the car over to the left hand side of the track ready for turn one. Depending on what car you are driving the braking point will be around the first of three marker sticks. Then turn in for the corner just before the third (last) marker stick – please note this is a third gear corner.
Trail braked as normal into the corner and aim to feed the power in smoothly just before the apex by the inside curb. Power through firmly and aim for the next marker stick on the left-hand side of the next corner.
Corner two – Hawthorne Bend and Chicane
On the approach to this continuous right-hand turn use all the flat curb on the left. Then bring the car in close to the inside curb. Try to get down to full power without getting wheel spin as this right-hand curve leads into a flat out chicane and onto the back straight.
Corner three – Tower Bend
On the approach to this fairly tight
Corner four – Jim Clarke Esses
The Esses is an exciting section of the circuit which requires good awareness of where the car needs to be positioned and turn in points. It would be very easy to miss one or two of these and run wide. From leaving Tower bend, bring the car over to the right side of the track. L
Corner five – Barcroft
This is the final flat out right curve after the Jim Clarke Esses. You need to brake hard as soon as the car is with a straight steering wheel to reduce the chance of in-settling the car.
Depending what car you drive you can go full power through this right turn, or gentle ease off some power before going through. This will make it all feel a lot calmer and less on the edge.
Corner six & seven – Sunny in & Sunny out
‘Sunny in’ has quite a fast third gear entry to the corner. Once you are at the apex apply a positive amount of power and make sure the car is allowed to run out to the exit curb.
Almost straight away you will be turning the steering wheel right to bring the car back to the inside apex curb and carry as much speed as possible through ‘Sunny out’ exit. Depending what car you drive and your level of experience, ‘Sunny out’ can be taken between 80% to flat out throttle.
Corner eight, nine and ten – Complex
The last part of the lap is made up of three corners (left – right – left)
On the approach to the left turn, there is a colour change in the tarmac where there’s a lighter patch. Just before the second line (where it goes darker again ) is your
About a cars length before the end of the curb on the left is where you brake again and then turn in just after the end of the curb. Aim to use all the flat inside curb on the right placing the car close to the inside tyre bail. Again, power positively from the apex and take the most natural line with least amount of steering angle that’s achievable.
On the approach to the last corner you will need to drop into the second gear as this is a tight hairpin. Look out for a grey square patch on the tarmac – turn the car slowly into the corner about half a car length over this. Aim to meet a late apex, then feed the power in smoothly so you get minimal wheel spin on the exit.
Contact us to book an instructor Find out more about our Private tuition