大象传媒

Nestled among the farms and villages that line the River Tees near Darlington, Croft Circuit is a little over two miles of tarmac racetrack, most of which lies directly on top of the runways used by the RAF to launch bombing raids in the 1940s.

The original plan, after the war, was not to turn the site into a racetrack, but into an aerodrome. The story goes that the idea of motor racing only came about after it was discovered local car enthusiasts had been breaking in at night to test themselves on the runways.

Preparing for the 2008 Christmas Stages

The course underwent a further major change, by way of a 拢1.5m facelift, in 1997. This allowed the course to bid for, and win, the right to host top-level events, such as the British Superbikes and the British Touring Car Championship.

Motorsport broadcaster Larry Carter is a big fan of the circuit. He told 大象传媒 Tees, "In excess of five, even ten thousand people can come along and see the cream of British rallying... It's almost like going along to your local park and watching some of the Premiership footballers in action. It's a fantastic spectacle."