Croft Circuit near Darlington welcomes the all-action Michelin Clio Cup Race Series and Road Series next weekend, 11th/12th July, where the title race in both championships is expected to heat up as the 2015 campaign reaches its halfway point.After the most recent outing at Thruxton three weeks ago, where the high-revving, normally aspirated 2.0-litre cars delivered some classic slip-streaming battles and vintage Clio Cup racing, all eyes will be on whether the two Lukes – Herbert and Pinder – can continue their winning ways in the Race Series and Road Series respectively.Westbourne Motorsport’s Luke Herbert (Chichester) continued his near faultless start to the season last time out by taking his tally of wins for the year to four with a superb Thruxton double, helping him boost his championship lead to 39 points.Luke Pinder (Shipley), meanwhile, was even more impressive in the Road Series as he extended his unbroken run of victories to five from five. Adding fastest lap in each contest at Thruxton, the Jade Developments driver is yet to drop a single point so far this season and holds a substantial 40 point advantage heading to Croft, his ‘home’ venue.While Herbert and Pinder have been in tremendous form, there are plenty of drivers in both classes more than capable of challenging for victory at Croft. In the Race Series, privateer Paul Streather (Hinckley) is the only driver other than Herbert to take a win so far – at Rockingham during round three – but after missing out on podiums at Thruxton he will arrive at Croft fifth in the standings.So close is the battle behind Herbert in the championship, just 15 points separate second to fifth with Westbourne’s Sam Randon (Ashbourne) moving up into the runner-up spot at Thruxton after a strong weekend which he wrapped-up with a season-best performance in round five. As well as finishing second to Herbert, just 0.197 seconds shy, he also set a new lap record.Only six points adrift of Randon in the points table are 20Ten Racing’s Brett Lidsey (Gravesend) and Finesse Motorsport’s Andy Jordan (Bridgnorth), both of whom enjoyed podium success last time out in rounds four and five respectively. Tied on points going into the third event of the season at Croft, Lidsey and Jordan – like Randon – could challenge for a maiden win sooner rather than later.Consistent first year Clio Cup racer Tom Barley (Crayford) rounds out the Race Series top six but is being hotly pursued by Finesse driver Pete Bennett (Norwich), who enjoyed his best weekend of the season so far at Thruxton, and Sport Class rookie Adam Hatfield (Cranworth).After a notable Race Series debut at Thruxton, where he pressed Herbert hard in race one to finish a very close second, former British Touring Car Championship racer and British GT class champion Matt Allison (Norwich) will be one to watch in his self-entered Intercity Racing car at Croft – a venue where he has enjoyed race victory in the past in the national Renault UK Clio Cup. James Dorlin (Barnsley), meanwhile, is guaranteed to continue making a big impression for the Westbourne Motorsport squad. Having to miss the season curtain-raiser at Rockingham due to his 16th birthday falling the week after the event, the Junior Saloon Car Champion majorly impressed when making his Clio debut at daunting Thruxton with a best of sixth position in his maiden race.Jade Developments’ Honour leads charge to topple team-mate PinderAs the Road Series prepares to reach its midway point at Croft, category mainstay Jake Honour (Devizes) heads the pack aiming to get on terms with Jade team-mate Pinder. After something of a mixed weekend at Thruxton, though, Honour heads to North Yorkshire just eight points ahead of CGHimports.com racer Nic Harrison (Burton-on-Trent).Honour did extend his run of second place finishes to four from four in the opening Thruxton contest, but a tangle at the last corner in round five cost him the chance of another podium. With Harrison taking second place in that race, and fourth in the previous contest, he heads back to the scene of his maiden Road Series win last year in good form.Fourth in the championship is Road Series rookie Matt Fincham (Aylesbury) for Go Racing Motorsport, who won’t be in action at Croft, with 20Ten’s Tyler Lidsey (Dartford), who claimed his first outright Road Series podium at Thruxton, fifth. Westbourne’s Sarah Franklin (Kettering) and Paint Perfect Motorsport driver John Creasey (Lincoln) are next up in the Road Series battle.Qualifying for rounds six and seven of the 2015 season will take place at 14.10 on Saturday, 11th July, with both races following on Sunday, 12th July, at 13.00 and 16.30 respectively. Live timing will be available HEREAway from the current Michelin Clio Cup Race Series and Road Series campaign, plans to run an Autumn Cup this year have unfortunately changed as the British Automobile Racing Club (BARC) has decided not to organise a race meeting at Rockingham on Saturday, 17th October. Registered drivers have been informed by championship newsletter.Along with headline sponsors Michelin and Protyre, the Clio Cup Series is additionally supported by Ferodo and Safety Devices with further support for the Road Series from Monster Sport Europe.Provisional 2015 Michelin Clio Cup Race Series Driver Standings (after Rd5):1st Luke Herbert, 156pts; 2nd Sam Randon, 117pts; =3rd Brett Lidsey/Andy Jordan, 111pts; 5th Paul Streather, 102pts; 6th Tom Barley, 82ptsProvisional 2015 Michelin Clio Cup Road Series Driver Standings (after Rd5):1st Luke Pinder, 170pts; 2nd Jake Honour, 130pts; 3rd Nic Harrison, 122pts;4th Matt Fincham, 105pts; 5th Tyler Lidsey, 97pts; 6th Sarah Franklin, 88pts