CROFT RACETRACK'S 2014 season gets under way next weekend as the North East Motor Cycle Race Club stage the first round of their club championship at the North Yorkshire venue.

The two-day meeting, which will take place on March 29-30, will feature local BSB rider Joe Burns in the solo classes, a strong entry of sidecars including 2012 British champions Ian and Carl Bell, and a class run by the British Scooter club.

This year marks Croft's 50th anniversary, with the landmark being marked by a special Nostalgia weekend in the summer.

Croft hosted its first motor-racing event on August 3, 1964, with the Daily Mirror Trophy Meeting attracting touring cars, GTs, sports cars, single-seaters and bikes.

Exactly half a century later, on August 2-3, the sights and sounds of yesteryear will be recreated as the Nostalgia Weekend, which is now in its fifth consecutive year, sees historic Hillman Imps and Lotus Cortinas share centre stage with live music, fashion displays, World War Two encampments and an air show.

Croft's full 2014 schedule has now been confirmed, with the British Touring Cars Championship returning to North Yorkshire on June 28-29.

“This is a big year for Croft Autodrome, and to be able to celebrate our 50th birthday on the very same weekend as the first race meeting back in 1964 makes it even more special,” said circuit manager Mike Cantelo.

2014 Schedule

March 29-30 North East Motor Cycle Club race meeting

April 21 Darlington & District Motor Club Easter sprint meeting

April 26-27 BARC race meeting

May 10-11 Darlington & District Motor Club race meeting

June 28-29 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship

July 19-20 BARC race meeting

August 2-3 Croft Nostalgia Weekend

August 16-17 Derby Phoenix Motor Cycle Club race meeting

September 6-7 BRSCC race meeting

September 20-21 BARC race meeting

October 4-5 Hottrax Motorbike race meeting

October 18 MSA British Rallycross Championship

October 19 MSA Rallycross Grand Prix

November 16 BTRDA Rallycross

TBC Roger Albert Clark Rally

December 28 Christmas Stages