HIGH EXCITEMENT AHEAD OF PREMIER RACE CHAMPIONSHIP'S ANNUAL VISIT TO CROFT CIRCUIT

BTCC news from Croft Circuit

With less than a fortnight to go, the Croft Circuit is now into final preparations ahead of staging the North East’s biggest motor racing event of 2011 – the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship on Father’s Day weekend 18-19 June.

Huge numbers of people are anticipated at the event for it is the only time this year that the BTCC, the pinnacle of car racing in the UK and indeed one of the most popular motor racing championships in the world, will visit the region.

Last month it was the turn of Britain’s top attraction on two wheels, the British Superbike Championship, to wow the crowds at Croft. But now the clock is counting down the final ten days before the country’s most spectacular four-wheel race series arrives at the North East’s number one motor sport venue just outside Darlington.

Tickets on the gate will cost £13 to see practice and qualifying on the Saturday or £27 for the main race day (Sunday). Alternatively, an all-encompassing full weekend ticket costs just £33 while admission for accompanied children aged 15 and under is FREE as Croft continues its hugely popular ‘free for kids’ policy for all its race events in 2011. Camping is also available for those looking to make a real weekend of it. For all ticketing and other information about the event contact the Croft Circuit office on 01325 721815 or visit the www.croftcircuit.co.uk website.

Once through the gate on BTCC weekend, the public will have open access to the race teams’ paddock as well as the specially organised Pit Lane Walkabout session which gives them plenty of opportunities to meet the star drivers for autographs, photos and team give-aways.

And there is heightened excitement surrounding the event after Honda team-mates Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden who lie first and second in the standings sensationally knocked each another off the track in last weekend’s latest round at Oulton Park, Cheshire. Now just 15 points – equivalent to a single win – cover the top six in the standings. Among those chasing Neal and Shedden hardest is Chevrolet’s Jason Plato, very much a ‘fans favourite’ at Croft thanks to his Newcastle roots, and his young Carlisle team-mate Alex MacDowall for whom Croft is also a home venue.

“This is traditionally a huge event for us here at Croft and also a huge sporting event for the whole of the North East,” commented Croft Circuit Manager Tracey Morley. “The BTCC brings tremendous kudos with it and we’re very proud to be staging such a prestigious and high-profile motor sporting event as this. It is massively important that the region is able to host events of this stature.

“The BTCC is also a race series that is famed for its bumper-to-bumper action and great rivalries such as Jason Plato vs Matt Neal. What happened yesterday will surely only add to the fascination about what lies in store here at Croft in two weeks. There’s sure to be a very exciting atmosphere on our spectator banks and we very much look forward to sharing with our trackside crowd in what promises to be a highly charged weekend.”

Also in action on BTCC weekend at Croft (18-19 June) will be a further nine races for categories run by thriving Leeds-based UK sportscar manufacturer Ginetta with its Junior and GT Supercup championships plus Renault's Formula Renault single-seater and Clio Cup saloon car series. The same Formula Renault championship has in recent years produced Formula 1 stars such as Kimi Raikkonen, Lewis Hamilton, Heikki Kovalainen and Paul di Resta and fans at Croft could just be seeing another young hotshot making his or her way to the top – among those on the grid notably is Josh Hill, son of 1996 F1 World Champion Damon Hill while contesting the Clio Cup is Lewis Hamilton's younger brother Nicolas in his debut season of racing.

The Croft paddock will start to take shape from the Wednesday onwards with the first track action on the Friday (17 June) when practice sessions for the Ginetta and Renault categories are held. On the Saturday (18 June), the BTCC drivers will be first on track with their opening practice session at 09.30am. Sunday's (19 June) activities start at 10.00am with the driver autograph session prior to the day's first BTCC race at midday.

For more information about Croft Circuit, its 2011 race calendar, details on ticket prices/how to book and the chance to drive the track in a variety of supercars (including a Ferrari 458) visit the www.croftcircuit.co.uk website or call the circuit office on 01325 721815.