The site was developed at the beginning of the Second World War as RAF Croft, also known as Croft Aerodrome. It served primarily as a bomber airfield, hosting aircraft types such as the Wellington, Lancaster, Whitley, Stirling, and Halifax. The aerodrome was home to several units, including the 419 Squadron from Canada. During the war years, the verges of the public access road were used to store racks of bombs and military equipment.
Following the end of hostilities, the RAF abandoned the aerodrome. In 1947, businessman John Neasham acquired the lease and formed the Darlington and District Aero Club, but the club folded after five years. Motorsport began in the late 1940s and 1950s when the Darlington & District Motor Club held race meetings using the runways and perimeter roads. In 1962, Bruce Ropner and other enthusiasts purchased half the venue at auction, completing a track in July 1964. The first meeting in August 1964 attracted a crowd estimated between 30,000 and 50,000 people.
While the circuit hosted national and international meetings, attention eventually shifted toward southern English circuits like Brands Hatch and Silverstone). In December 1967, Croft began hosting Rallycross events, which were televised live on ITV's World of Sport. Circuit racing continued alongside Rallycross until 1981, when falling profitability and the need for total resurfacing led to the closure of tarmac racing.
Local farmer George Shield subsequently leased the venue to develop it for Rallycross in conjunction with the Darlington & District Motor Club. Under this focus, Croft held the FIA Internations-Cup events of 1987 and 1990, as well as the 1994 British round of the FIA European Rallycross Championship. The success of Rallycross eventually led to the decision to reintroduce tarmac racing.
In 1997, the circuit underwent a major transformation. The track was extended to 2.127 mi (3.423 km), and new pits, a paddock complex, a control tower, and spectator areas were constructed. Following these upgrades, the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) and British Superbikes became regular features. While British Superbikes remained until 2011, the BTCC continues to be a staple of the circuit's calendar.
In 2000, local residents filed an official complaint regarding engine noise. While Darlington Borough Council quashed claims that the noise affected health, the circuit began providing free tickets to local residents as compensation.
The circuit lost a court case in April 2008, with claimants awarded £149,600 in compensation. Both parties appealed, and the January 2009 decision upheld the claimants' appeal. According to the corpus, "the injunction was granted and was the only substantive impact of the case," limiting "noisy days" to 40 per year. The outcome resulted in the 40-day injunction being granted instead of monetary damages, which were reduced to a nominal level. The court reasoned that the circuit could make no case that its economic survival would be affected, as major race days accounting for the majority of revenue could continue.
Croft has staged major races since 1996, including the BTCC and support series such as the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain, Renault Clio Cup, and Ginetta Junior Championship. It previously hosted UK Formula Renault, Formula BMW UK, and the SEAT Leon Cupra Championship. The circuit last featured on the F3/GT calendar in 2008.
The venue also has a history of stage rallying dating back to at least 1983, including hosting two stages of the 1996 Network Q RAC Rally. Since 2001, it has frequently hosted the Christmas Stages Rally and Jack Frost Stages Rally. Although a 2021 statement from the BARC indicated that rallying and rallycross would cease at the venue, stage rallying returned in November 2022.
Military-era buildings and structures survive on nearby farmland, though most major hangars were demolished and used as hardcore in nearby villages such as North Cowton, Dalton-on-Tees, and Croft-on-Tees. A dead tree stump at Atley Hill, approximately 4 miles away, served as a memorial to a bomber crew killed in a crash while returning from Germany; the stump was removed by the landowner in the mid-1990s.
Derived Figures:
The circuit length is stated as 2.127 mi (3.423 km) based on the corpus figure.
The distance of the Atley Hill crash site is stated as 4 miles (6.4 km) based on the corpus figure.
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