The curtains are ready to raise on the 2018 Croft Nostalgia Festival this weekend (4-5 August) with a huge entry list of iconic racing machines primed to take the North-East’s premier circuit by storm for a spectacular two days of riveting retro racing.

Showcasing majestic machinery spanning the decades, the annual historic racing festival never fails to deliver a terrific spectacle as the thrilling competition on track is complemented by stunning military exhibitions and parades, plus a packed programme of performers and entertainment.

Now into its ninth year, the Croft Nostalgia Festival has established itself as a major highlight on the North-East region’s social calendar, with thousands of visitors annually being transported to the halcyon days of motor sport.

With 180+ entries going wheel-to-wheel around the challenging Croft Circuit across 19 races – including some classes with more than 25 cars packing the grids – many leading lights of the historic racing scene are joined by numerous local drivers, who will count on the home support from those packing the banks of the North Yorkshire circuit.

Racing categories at the Croft Nostalgia Festival include Historic Touring Cars, Historic Formula 3, Classic Clubmans, the 70’s Road Sports, Spridgets (Sprites & Midgets), Historic Road Sports Formula Junior, URS with Historic Formula Ford 2000 and the Guards Trophy – all brought to you by the Historic Sports Car Club.

Among the many highlights is the perennially popular Historic Formula Ford race, which has attracted a huge 35-strong line-up across 14 different makes of single-seater car, while 26 drivers will hunt glory in Historic Formula Ford 2000 with URS featuring an intriguing battle between Reynard, Lola, Delta, Dulon, Royale and Crossle entries.

The evocative 70’s Road Sports category features a mouth-watering array of iconic cars, including a number of British favourites, such as the Lotus Elan and Europa, plus a brace of TVR 3000Ms and Triumphs. Fans will also have their heartstrings tugged by a cavalcade of Italian entries, including a Ferrari 308GT, Lancia Monte Carlo, Lancia Beta and Alfa Romeo Alfasud Sprint, while a plethora of Porsches add German engineering excellence to an exciting line up.

In the year Croft contributed towards the British Touring Car Championship’s (née British Saloon Car Championship) 60th anniversary celebrations, the enduringly-popular Historic Touring Car Championship tips a nostalgic nod to its modern successors with a showdown featuring many of the series’ most renowned contenders, including the fearsome Ford Mustang muscle machine and the more-nimble ‘Brit pack’ of the Lotus Cortina, Ford Anglia and the evergreen Mini Cooper S.

In addition to the enthralling track action, flying demonstrations by the Twisters Aerobatics Display team will take over the skies and classic car parades will take a lap of the circuit, while trade stalls will be selling a variety of products from vintage clothing and military kit to fashionable accessories and a period hair style makeover.

Moreover, the weekend’s entertainment in the marquee will be hosted by Colin Bourdiec ‘AKA’ George Formby, who perform classics including ‘When I’m Cleaning Windows’ and a World War II ENSA (Entertainment National Services Association) routine that will take you back to the 1940s. Back by popular demand, harmony trio ‘The Daisy Belles’ and The Evernotes will also perform in the marquee on both days.

“The Croft Nostalgia Festival is one of the region’s veritable summer highlights and this year’s event is shaping up to be another memorable one, enthused Circuit Manager Tracey Morley. “With the unmistakable sights, sounds and smells of magnificent historic racing machinery filling the venue across two days of glorious competition, the Croft Nostalgia Festival really is a treat for motoring enthusiasts and motor sport fans alike.

“More than that though, with noble military machinery on display, period exhibitions and activities, plus a wealth of entertainment and performances harking back to days gone by, there really is something for the entire family to enjoy.”

Tickets for the weekend are available on the gate from just £15 for Saturday, 4 August and £20 for Sunday, 5 August – or just £30 for the weekend. Accompanied children aged 15 and under will be admitted free of charge.