MOTORSPORT fans are in for a treat this weekend as Croft Circuit hosts two action-packed days of top class racing, with three rounds of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championships topping the bill.

After a brief summer break, the UK's biggest car series bursts back into action with rounds 16, 17 and 18 taking place on the North Yorkshire circuit.

And as well as the BTCC line-up, there will be several support races taking place across Saturday and Sunday, with the ROKIT British F4 Championship, the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain and Legends Cars Elite Cup with JLM all competing over 17 races throughout the weekend.

Fans can also get up close to the racing stars on Sunday morning when a pitlane walkabout takes place at 10.30am with a chance to meet the drivers, get autographs and photographs.

There's a lot of local interest in the various support races, including Max Coates from Scorton and Northallerton’s Ethan Hammerton, who will be contesting the three Porsche Sprint Challenge Great Britain races as teammates for Team Omologato by Graves Motorsport.

Coates said: "We're really looking forward to being back on home turf and hopefully both me and Ethan can be on the podium to celebrate with everyone who's coming to watch. There's so much going on over the course of the two days, it promises to be a great weekend."

Hammerton added: "We've not been here for a couple of years now so to come back to Croft is mega. We have all our family and friends and local sponsors coming down this weekend, which they don't often get chance to do."

The Northern Echo:

Teesside-based Redline Racing also have a number of drivers in action in the series and currently lead the Entrant’s Championship arriving at their local track.

In the BTCC, Napa Racing UK’s Ash Sutton currently tops the drivers’ standings with a narrow six-point advantage after taking a brace of podiums last time out in Cheshire. Triple BTCC champion Sutton is proving to be a force to be reckoned with this season after taking two wins in each of the last three meetings as he pursues a record-equalling fourth title.

But hot on his heels is reigning BTCC champion Tom Ingram, who occupies second spot after securing a couple of third places and a fourth in the previous rounds in the Bristol Street Motors with EXCELR8 Hyundai i30 Fastback N.

Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport’s Jake Hill heads up to Croft in third position. Hill completed his first ever BTCC double on the same weekend with a first race victory at Oulton Park followed by a lights-to-flag triumph in the second race. He claimed the last spot on the podium in the final race of the weekend.

King of Croft and Team BMW driver Colin Turkington is in fourth position after taking his 65th BTCC victory in race three last time out and will certainly be one to watch with the Northern Irishman holding both the race lap and qualifying lap record as he hunts down a record fifth title.

Yorkshireman Dan Cammish is in fifth. The Napa Racing UK driver took two fifth placed-finishes and a sixth at Oulton Park. Huddersfield’s Daniel Lloyd will also be in action following the best finish of his season so far in the Team HARD Cupra Leon in the second race in Cheshire, where he took his first top ten spot with eighth.

In a change to the BTCC line-up after the brief break, Jade Edwards will be behind the wheel of the Starline Racing with One Motorsport Honda Civic Type R alongside Josh Cook and Aiden Moffat after making the switch from Team HARD.

Edwards, the only female to race in the BTCC since 2007, said: "We need to break the stigma a little bit when we're really young about what girls do and what boys do.

"I grew up with no boundaries to do whatever sport I wanted, play with whatever toys I wanted and wear whatever I wanted. I'm actually a third generation driver - my grandfather raced, my dad and now myself.

"I went to my first race track when I was just two weeks old, so it's all I've ever known.

"I've done many years at Croft. It's one of my favourite circuits. It's one I always look forward to and hopefully this weekend we'll get some luck."

The Northern Echo:

Tracey Morley, Croft circuit manager, said: "This year's BTCC is proving to be as competitive as ever. We are sure this will be another memorable weeked of high-speed action."

Saturday's action gets underway at 9.30am with free practice for the BTCC drivers followed by a packed day of qualifying and the first of seven races starting at 12.35pm.

Following the pitlane walk on Sunday, the first of the BTCC races gets underway at 12.10pm, before a full afternoon programme of racing including further BTCC races at 2.35pm and 5pm.

Tickets are available on the gate. For more information visit www.croftcircuit.co.uk or call 01325 721815.