Crofts's big 5-0 a recipe for success

Stars and cars turn out in force as celebrity chef James Martin cooks up a stormStrong media presence as north-east’s premier motor sport venue kick-starts its 50th anniversary celebrationsBTCC aces and Nostalgia favourites ensure present and past are well represented

Croft hosted the great and the good from the worlds of motor sport and TV stardom (23 May), as Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship aces and celebrity guests helped to celebrate its 50th birthday in style.The north-east’s premier motor racing venue began life as Croft Autodrome back in the summer of 1964, since when it has gone on to welcome almost every high-calibre series including British F3, British Rallycross, British Superbikes and the all-action BTCC, which will return in just over a month’s time for the fifth of ten meetings on its 2014 calendar.Over the years Croft has also played host to some of the sport’s most legendary competitors, including Formula One World Champions Ayrton Senna, James Hunt, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Alan Jones, national treasure Sir Stirling Moss, Indianapolis 500 winner Dario Franchitti and Malcolm Wilson, a name synonymous with rallying all around the globe.Today, yet more stars of the past, present and future assembled at the Yorkshire circuit to mark Croft’s half-centenary and preview some of the high-octane action that will play out over the coming weeks and months.Leading BTCC rookie Tom Ingram and podium-finisher Adam Morgan were present with their respective teams – Speedworks Motorsport and WIX Racing – ahead of the ultra-competitive tin-top series’ visit on 28/29 June.“Croft is one of my favourite circuits,” remarked Ingram. “I’ve always seemed to go well here, which helps of course, and I’m very much looking forward to tackling the track in a BTCC car for the first time here next month. Croft is always one of the events you look forward to because it’s a fantastic atmosphere – it’s extremely busy and everyone is just so friendly, which sums up the personality of the place.”“I really like Croft,” echoed Morgan, “and I have some good memories here having taken my first win at the circuit in a Ginetta G50. It’s really fast and on-the-edge – you have to be so precise and any slight mistake will be punished, as I found out myself last year in touring cars!“The fans turn out in their droves and it’s great because they can get into the paddock, meet all the drivers and get up close to the action. Whenever we come here there are thousands of fans, and that’s great for everyone.”Celebrity chef James Martin was one of the draws of the day with two of his classic Minis and a 1950s Ford Prefect 107E in the iconic Alan Mann Racing colours, whilst Emmerdale actor Kelvin Fletcher was a similarly popular attendee with his Redline Racing Porsche Type-991 911 GT3 race car from the Porsche Carrera Cup GB.“Croft is my local circuit as I was born up this way,” revealed ‘Saturday Kitchen’ star Martin. “It reminds me a little of Goodwood – really fast and extremely challenging.“I’ve raced here twice before at the Nostalgia Meeting and really enjoyed it – and I’ll be at the next one, too, which I’m really looking forward to. I started to collect racing cars a few years ago and I’ve got the bug now, so to get the chance to race them is just fantastic.”“I competed at Croft last year in a Porsche and scored two podiums in only my second year of racing,” added soap star Fletcher. “It’s a very fast circuit, so to be racing a 400bhp car here was a real baptism of fire! I also tried rallycross in a Mini; the circuit is well known for that discipline too, and it was great fun.“The best thing for me about Croft is how spectators can get up close to the action and get a real sense of the atmosphere. Seeing all the cars and people that have come out today is great and demonstrates the interest and love for the circuit.“I’m still on a steep learning curve as I’m very new to racing, but I’m getting quicker all the time and in the near future I hope I can become a well-respected driver. Racing in the Carrera Cup GB is amazing – the cars are sensational and the championship is run so well. Being on the TOCA package is great – with the fans and the live TV – it’s still a bit of a dream come true, to be honest.”Martin Sledmore’s thunderous Ford Mustang was another to wow onlookers, as the legendary ‘Pony Car’ reaches its own half-century in 2014. The 1960s behemoth was joined amongst others by a brace of Minis, a Lotus 31 single-seater and a Brabham – in deference to the recent passing of Australian hero Sir Jack Brabham – with stunt-driving specialist and Croft local Paul Swift starring in his Mk1 Ford Escort RS2000.Croft’s official 50th anniversary celebrations will take place at the Nostalgia Weekend on 2/3 August – exactly five decades to the date of the inaugural Daily Mirror Trophy Meeting.One of the guests of honour at the Media Day was Chris Meek, who competed in the original meeting back in 1964 and regaled the audience with stories of Croft through the ages, opining that whilst the circuit has witnessed much change since the early days, its charisma, character and northern soul remain undiluted and are the driving force behind its continued success.“What a fantastic way to begin Croft’s 50th birthday celebrations!” said circuit manager Mike Cantelo. “We had a superb turnout of drivers, cars and media and the sight of current BTCC machinery mixing it with historic single-seaters and classic saloons out on the track was an awesome spectacle.“To have James Martin and Kelvin Fletcher come along for the day and take to the circuit made it extra-special, and the insight from Chris Meek on the early years of Croft and its evolution through the ages was fascinating to hear. From the past to the present, Croft has played an important role in motor racing in this country, and now we are entering the most exciting era yet – the future.”


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