Croft Track Days.
Private Motorsport Experiences with Merrills Motorsport.
The premier motorsport circuit in the north of England, set in the North Yorkshire countryside.
The North's Greatest Circuit
Yorkshire’s Home Circuit.
The land at Dalton-on-Tees was requisitioned in late 1940 as a satellite station for RAF Middleton St George - the airfield that today operates as Durham Tees Valley Airport.
Built to Class A standard with three hard runways, RAF Croft was operational by October 1941, home to Wellington, Halifax, and Lancaster’s flying sorties over occupied Europe. It was one of the northern airfields assigned to the all-Canadian No. 6 Group, RCAF.
When the RAF left in 1945 the land was returned, changed hands, and sat largely dormant until 1962, when a consortium of enthusiasts led by Bruce Ropner purchased the northern half of the old aerodrome at public auction. Planning permission followed within eighteen months.
The new circuit opened on 3 August 1964 and drew a crowd of between 30,000 and 50,000 people. In the years that followed, the circuit hosted some of the most significant names in the sport at the early stages of their careers. Niki Lauda raced here. James Hunt raced here. Damon Hill raced here. Carlos Pace won the Guards International Trophy for Formula Three at Croft in 1970.
By the early 1980s, the track surface had deteriorated and the circuit closed. A period of rallycross kept the venue alive through the decade before a full redevelopment delivered a new circuit in 1997.
What emerged was the 2.127-mile layout that stands today - fast, technical, and consistently regarded as the truest all-round test on the British Touring Car Championship calendar.
The Jim Clark Esses carry cars at over 115mph. Barcroft is taken at over 130mph. Tower, Complex, Hawthorn, Clervaux, Sunny - it demands precision at speed and punishes anything short of commitment.
What to Expect at Croft
Croft Circuit sits six miles south of Darlington, accessible from Junction 57 of the A1(M) and within easy reach of the A66 and A19.
Durham Tees Valley Airport is eleven miles to the northeast.
Newcastle Airport, with significantly broader domestic and international connections, is under an hour to the north.
Parking is extensive and complimentary across multiple areas within the circuit grounds. Your Merrills experience coordinator will arrange all paddock access and circuit logistics in advance.
Hangar 50 - the circuit's purpose-built hospitality and dining centre - sits at the heart of the paddock with a covered outdoor terrace and an open-plan interior suited to private hire for groups of up to 80 seated or 150 standing.
The menu is built around locally sourced ingredients prepared by the circuit's in-house catering team.
For larger corporate groups requiring more extensive space, the circuit's paddock and pit facilities provide a versatile canvas for bespoke event planning, product launches, and private track experiences.
WiFi coverage extends across the pit garages and paddock.
Explore More Circuits Around the World
Croft is one of 27 circuits available through Merrills Motorsport, spanning the UK, Europe, and the Middle East.
Whether you're drawn to the history of Spa, the heat of Yas Marina, or a private test day closer to home, our team will arrange it around you.