Croft Circuit hosts the latest rounds of the 2022 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this weekend as the UK’s biggest car racing series heads north.

All is to play for in rounds 13, 14 and 15. Seven drivers have sampled victory in the dozen races so far, with five others finishing on the podium, meaning over half of the 29-driver grid had already sampled silverware, highlighting the competitiveness of this year’s line-up.

After a dramatic round at Oulton Park, consistent results over the weekend saw the Rich Energy BTC Racing Honda Civic Type R of Josh Cook maintain his lead at the head of the standings.

With four wins to his credit this season, the Bristolian will be aiming to increase his slender 15-point advantage over second placed Tom Ingram.

Having won the opening round of the season, Ingram, from Coventry, took a double victory last time out in the Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com Hyundai i30N to thrust himself firmly back into the mix.

Third in the standings is triple and defending BTCC champion Ash Sutton who is just three points adrift of Ingram.

Remarkably, the Bishop’s Stortford driver has yet to win a race this season for the NAPA Racing UK team in his Ford Focus ST but with six podium finishes to his credit, he’ll be looking for his first victory of 2022 at Croft as he goes in search of a fourth crown.

But perhaps the man they will all have to beat is fourth-placed Buckinghamshire-based Ulsterman Colin Turkington who hasn’t acquired the nickname ‘King of Croft’ for no reason.

Colin Turkington, known as the King of Croft, will be looking to build on his 13 wins at the venue Picture: TONY TODD

Colin Turkington, known as the 'King of Croft', will be looking to build on his 13 wins at the venue Picture: TONY TODD

The four-times BTCC champion, who remains with Team BMW in the BMW 330e M Sport, has won 13 times at Croft over his illustrious career, so hopes to bounce back after a nasty crash at Oulton Park.

Kent’s Jake Hill occupies fifth in the standings, but the ROKiT MB Motorsport BMW 330e M Sport driver hasn’t taken a win since the opening round at Donington Park so will be aiming to rectify that in North Yorkshire.

Rounding out the top six is popular three-times BTCC champion Gordon Shedden who also has a single victory to his name this season. The Scotsman, in the Halfords Racing with Cataclean Honda Civic Type R, can look to his three Croft victories in 2010 and 2012 for inspiration.

Other winners this season include Lancashire marauder Adam Morgan (Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport BMW 330e M Sport) who scored a victory at Thruxton and the last race winner at Oulton Park, Stephen Jelley (Team BMW 330e M Sport).

Newcastle-born Jason Plato makes his final appearance at his home track following his announcement that he’s set to retire at the end of the season.

Driver Jason Plato Picture: CHRIS BOOTH

Driver Jason Plato Picture: CHRIS BOOTH

With 97 career victories to his name following an illustrious career over 25 years, the Rich Energy BTC Racing Honda Civic Type R driver will be looking to go out with a bang at Croft.

Yorkshire drivers Dan Cammish (NAPA Racing UK Ford Focus ST) and Daniel Lloyd (Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 TradePriceCars.com Hyundai i30N) arrive at Croft with differing fortunes. Cammish, from Leeds, has two podiums to his credit so far this season and occupies tenth in the standings.

One place ahead of him is Huddersfield’s Lloyd who has yet to score a podium but up until a huge shunt at Oulton Park in the final race, had scored points in all 11 preceding races. That crash saw him hospitalised as a precaution but despite no serious injuries as it turned out, he faces a race against time to be on the grid at Croft.

It’s not only the all-action BTCC that will thrill the crowds at Croft, as a fast-and-furious feast of support series add to the appeal. The superstars of the future will go wheel-to-wheel in the ROKiT F4 British Championship, with the next generation of BTCC heroes earning their spurs in the Michelin Ginetta Junior Championship.

In the Quaife MINI Challenge Trophy, Scorton’s Max Coates upholds local honour along with Stockton driver Lauren Tayla and Durham’s Sophie Wright while York ace Matt Greenwood will be hoping for a good run at Croft in the Porsche Visit Cayman Islands Sprint Challenge. There is action from the Protyre Motorsport Ginetta GT5 Challenge also and the not-to-be-missed Pait Lane Walkabout for autographs on Sunday from 10.30 to 11.05.

lAdult admission prices are £17 for Saturday, £35 for Sunday and £43 for a weekend ticket. Prices for 13 to 15-year-olds are priced at £7, £10, and £12 respectively and all accompanied children aged 12 and under go free. Parking and paddock access is free too, and limited-edition souvenir programmes are on sale at £5.

For further details, visit croftcircuit.co.uk or call 01325 721815.