Chris Hodgetts
Encyclopedia
Chris Hodgetts is a British
former racing
driver.
Hodgetts debuted in the British Touring Car Championship
in 1980. His first overall podium place came in 1981 when he came second. He was consistent in the top five after that. He came fourth in 1983, fifth in 1984, second in 1985, before winning the series in 1986
and 1987
. His last race in the BTCC was in 1990
.
During the 1980 season Chris Hodgetts was driving for Brooklyns and in an iconic red RS500.
Besides racing in touring cars
, Hodgetts also found success in sports car racing
. He shared the BRDC C2 Championship
with Tim Harvey
in 1989 before retiring and won the TVR Tuscan Challenge
in 1990. He also drove in the World Sportscar Championship
on occasion and had seven starts in the 24 Hours of Le Mans
, representing team such as Mazdaspeed
, Courage Compétition
and Spice Engineering
. In 1995 he won the GT2 title in the British GT Championship
, driving a Marcos LM600
. He retired after 1998, when he drove a Lola in the ISRS
.
Hodgetts now works for Racing Team & Drivers as a driver instructor. His son Stefan
raced in the BTCC in 2004.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
former racing
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
driver.
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
in 1980. His first overall podium place came in 1981 when he came second. He was consistent in the top five after that. He came fourth in 1983, fifth in 1984, second in 1985, before winning the series in 1986
1986 British Saloon Car Championship season
The 1986 RAC British Saloon Car Championship, was the 29th season of the championship, and the final under the name of The British Saloon Car Championship...
and 1987
1987 British Touring Car Championship season
The 1987 Dunlop RAC British Touring Car Championship, was the 30th season of the championship. The series, previously the British Saloon Car Championship, had a new name and new sponsor...
. His last race in the BTCC was in 1990
1990 British Touring Car Championship season
The 1990 Esso RAC British Touring Car Championship season was the 33rd British Touring Car Championship season and marked the last year of the Group A era. It was also the final year of the multi-class format.-Changes for 1990:...
.
During the 1980 season Chris Hodgetts was driving for Brooklyns and in an iconic red RS500.
Besides racing in touring cars
Touring car racing
Touring car racing is a general term for a number of distinct auto racing competitions in heavily-modified street cars. It is notably popular in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, Scandinavia and Britain.-Characteristics of a touring car:...
, Hodgetts also found success in sports car racing
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
. He shared the BRDC C2 Championship
BRDC C2 Championship
The BRDC C2 Championship was a short lived sports car racing series which ran from 1988 to 1990. The series was for Group C cars which fit into the smaller, less powerful, and cheaper C2 category. All races were run in Great Britain...
with Tim Harvey
Tim Harvey
Tim Harvey is a racing driver from England. He was the 2008 and 2010 Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain Champion. A household name in the 1990s, Harvey won the prestigious BTCC title in 1992, and was a frontrunner for most of the late 80s and early 90s...
in 1989 before retiring and won the TVR Tuscan Challenge
TVR Tuscan Challenge
The TVR Tuscan Challenge is a one-make series dedicated to the second incarnation of the TVR Tuscan sports car , and takes place throughout the United Kingdom...
in 1990. He also drove in the World Sportscar Championship
World Sportscar Championship
The World Sportscar Championship was the world series run for sports car racing by the FIA from 1953 to 1992.The championship evolved from a small collection of the most important sportscar, endurance and road racing events in Europe and North America with dozens of gentleman drivers at the grid,...
on occasion and had seven starts in the 24 Hours of Le Mans
24 Hours of Le Mans
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world's oldest sports car race in endurance racing, held annually since near the town of Le Mans, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency, race teams have to balance speed against the cars' ability to run for 24 hours without sustaining...
, representing team such as Mazdaspeed
Mazdaspeed
Mazdaspeed is Mazda's in-house race and street car tuning arm. It began in 1968 as "Mazda Sports Corner", a tuning and racing operation run by Takayoshi Ohashi, who also ran Mazda's Tokyo distributor...
, Courage Compétition
Courage Compétition
Courage Compétition was a racing team and chassis constructor company now owned by Oreca, based in Le Mans, France near the Circuit de la Sarthe. It was founded by Yves Courage, a French race driver who ran hillclimbs before founding the company...
and Spice Engineering
Spice Engineering
Spice Engineering was a British racing team founded by driver Gordon Spice with his brother Derek Spice in the early 1980s, later becoming a successful sports car constructor in 1986...
. In 1995 he won the GT2 title in the British GT Championship
British GT Championship
The Avon Tyres British GT Championship is a sports car racing series currently based in the United Kingdom, although they have had select races outside of Britain in the past few years. The series was created by the British Racing Drivers' Club in 1993 and for its first two seasons was called the...
, driving a Marcos LM600
Marcos (automobile)
Marcos was a British sports car manufacturer. The name was a combination of founders Jem Marsh and Frank Costin.-History:Marcos was founded in Luton, in Bedfordshire, England, in 1959 by Jem Marsh and Frank Costin. Frank Costin had earlier worked on the De Havilland Mosquito fighter-bombers and...
. He retired after 1998, when he drove a Lola in the ISRS
FIA Sportscar Championship
The FIA Sportscar Championship was a sports car racing series created by John Mangoletsi and was eventually taken control of by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It was a series similar to the FIA GT Championship, concentrating on two classes of open-cockpit sports prototypes in...
.
Hodgetts now works for Racing Team & Drivers as a driver instructor. His son Stefan
Stefan Hodgetts
Stefan Hodgetts is a British auto racing driver, best known for driving a part season in the British Touring Car Championship. His father Chris was twice champion of the BTCC.-Racing career:...
raced in the BTCC in 2004.