THE European Endurance and Racing Club heads North to Croft Circuit this weekend for the first of a three-round series which will see a Le Mans type spectacle of cars racing in the dark.

The EERC Britcar Endurance Series Twilight Race, to be held on Saturday, October 23, is planned to run for two hours, starting at around 6.30. It will be preceded by a 45-minute qualifying session, which will start in daylight but end in darkness, fulfilling requirements for practice in night conditions.

"The BARC came to me with the idea," said series boss James Tucker. "This will be the first ever night race at Croft, and should be a blinder!"

A total of 35 cars are entered in the event and will include a number of famous drivers in the ranks. Current BTCC ace Luke Hines will be in action driving a Honda Civic, while former works driver David Leslie will be out in a BMW M3.

Former British Rally champion Gwyndaf Evans competes in an MG ZR, while ex TVR Tuscan champion Ian Flux will appear in a Mercedes LM3000.

The event will be preceded by a 100-minute race in daylight for the EERC Britsport Endurance Series and complements the races already planned at Donington Park on November 6, and Brands Hatch on November 20.

A full seven-race programme is planned for Sunday, with the final round of the BARC Championships taking place.

The meeting also incorporates the final rounds of the Darlington and District Motor Club-organised Northern Sports and Saloon Car Championship over two 15-minute races, and there will be a pair of ten lap encounters for the Lancaster Insurance MG Owners Club competitors.

The Universal Racing Services Classis Formula Ford 2000 Championships will be resolved with the final two rounds taking place as well as outings for the Toyo Tyres Modified Production Saloon Car Championship and the MaX5 Racing Series, which will see a grid full of Mazda MX5s battling it out for honours.

Saturday's action starts with qualifying from 10am with the first of the two endurance races getting underway at 3pm, while racing on Sunday starts at 12.05pm.

Adult admission costs £6 on Saturday and £12 on Sunday, with accompanied children under 15 admitted and Grandstand seating free.

* Britain's Johnny Herbert took a dramatic victory in the final round of the American Le Mans Series at Laguna Seca.

The 40-year-old Essex-born driver started the four-hour race from third on the grid in his Champion Audi feeling unwell with food poisoning.

His Audi was nudged into a spin at turn one but he recovered to move into fourth before being helped by several strokes of luck.

The Zytek of Jamie Campbell-Walter and Nicolas Minasasian retired from a strong position before Pierre Kaffer took over.

Published: 18/10/2004