Croft Circuit provides the next stop on the calendar for the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship this weekend (September 18/19) and its set to see the battle for supremacy in the fight for the title only intensify.

Entering the business end of the 2021 season, the North Yorkshire venue will play host to Rounds 19, 20 & 21 and every point and position is set to be pivotal for those aiming to maintain their title challenges.

After being forced to stage the BTCC behind closed doors last year, this weekend is set to be a significant one for Croft as it gets set to welcome an expected bumper crowd trackside to watch Britain’s premier motorsport series in action for the first time in more than two years.

Reigning champion Ashley Sutton enters the seventh event of the year as the driver to beat having extended his lead in the championship to 30 points last time out at Thruxton. Chalking up his fourth win of the season, the Laser Tools Racing driver has been in superlative form and he shows no sign of letting up.

Since debuting in 2016, Croft has proven to be a happy hunting ground for the double champion and despite carrying 75kgs of success ballast, the Infiniti Q50 driver will be optimistic of extending his lead on the chasing pack once more.

Behind Sutton, just 11 points split four drivers. Tom Ingram leads the chase for Sutton in his Ginsters EXCELR8 with TradePriceCars.com Hyundai ahead of BTC Racing’s Josh Cook, MB Motorsport’s Jake Hill and Team BMW’s Colin Turkington.

Adam Morgan, Rory Butcher and Daniel Rowbottom have all stood on the top step of the podium this year and each one of them will be keen to do so once more as they bid

One driver that is still chasing a win this year is triple champion Gordon Shedden. The Halfords Racing with Cataclean driver has endured a rollercoaster campaign however the Scotsman can never be counted out.

Local fans will have two homegrown heroes to cheer on too in the shape of Senna Proctor and Daniel Lloyd. Despite missing the season-opener, BTC Racing’s Proctor has proven to be one of the form drivers this year with a pole, win and three further podiums his reward.

Adrian Flux with Power Maxed Racing’s Lloyd meanwhile has endured his fair share of highs and lows this year but three races on home turf – at the venue where he scored his maiden BTCC win back in 2018 – could be just what he needs.

Beyond the top ten in the standings, a number of drivers will be keen to make their mark around the 2.1-mile circuit, including double champion Jason Plato who continues his quest to reach a century of BTCC victories.

Elsewhere, the likes of Tom Chilton, Aiden Moffat, Jack Goff, Tom Oliphant, Stephen Jelley, Jade Edwards and Aron Taylor-Smith will all be worth keeping an eye on.

To find out more information on this weekend’s meeting at Croft, including links to the timetable and live timing, CLICK HERE.

Tickets to the BTCC’s only north-eastern event of the year can be purchased on the gate over the course of the weekend priced at £15.00 for Saturday entry, £35.00 for Sunday and £43.00 for both days. Children 12 and under accompanied by an adult are admitted to the circuit free of charge, whilst teens will need to purchase a ‘teen ticket’.