Chris Hodgetts

Chris Hodgetts (born 6 December 1950 in Tanworth-in-Arden, Warwickshire) is a British former racing driver. He began his racing career in 1979, driving in the Clubman Class A championship. [1]

BTCC career
Chris Hodgetts' 1985 British Saloon Car Championship Ford Escort RS1600.

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, mostly driving for the works Toyota team. He came fourth in 1983, fifth in 1984, second in 1985, before winning the series in 1986 and 1987 at the wheel of a Group C Toyota Corolla.[2] The 1988 season was not a success. The new Group A Toyota Supra needed a lot of development and only a handful of good results were gained.[3] His last race in the BTCC was in 1990. That season he drove for the works Vauxhall team, helping to develop the new Vauxhall Cavalier. Towards the end of the year he switched to a Ford Sierra, before calling time on his BTCC career. During the 1989 season, Hodgetts was driving for Brooklyn in an iconic red Ford Sierra RS500.

After the BTCC

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.[4] The 1994 season saw Chris in the Rover Turbo Challenge.[5] 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. He had a best finish of 7th place overall in the classic 24 hour race.[6] 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.[7]

Hodgetts now works for Racing Team & Drivers as a driver instructor. His son Stefan raced in the BTCC in 2004.[8]

Racing record

Complete British Saloon / Touring Car Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position – 1980–1990 in class) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap – 1 point awarded ?–1989 in class)

Year Team Car Class 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 DC Pts Class
1980 Hughes of Beaconsfield Toyota Celica GT B MAL
3†		 OUL
1†		 THR
?		 SIL
9		 SIL
7		 BRH
DSQ		 MAL BRH THR
Ret		 SIL
?		 6th 45 1st
1981 Hughes of Beaconsfield Toyota Celica GT B MAL
Ret†		 SIL
Ret		 OUL
1†		 THR
11		 BRH
8†		 SIL
12		 SIL
?		 DON
1†		 BRH
8		 THR
?		 SIL
7		 2nd 74 1st
1982 Chris Hodgetts Toyota Corolla GT C SIL MAL OUL THR THR SIL DON
Ret		 BRH
Ret		 DON BRH SIL NC 0 NC
1983 Brooklyn Motorsport Ford Escort RS1600i C SIL
13		 OUL
14		 THR
13		 BRH
Ret		 THR
12		 SIL
7		 DON
Ret		 SIL
13		 DON
9		 BRH
11		 SIL
10		 3rd 43 2nd
1984 Brooklyn Motorsport Ford Escort RS1600i C DON
10		 SIL
11		 OUL
11		 THR
Ret		 THR
Ret		 SIL
?		 SNE
13		 BRH
11		 BRH
Ret		 DON
16		 SIL
Ret		 5th 45 2nd
1985 Brooklyn Motorsport/ECS Ford Escort RS1600i C SIL
10		 OUL
9		 THR
9		 DON
10		 THR
7		 SIL
13		 DON
14		 SIL
13		 SNE
10		 BRH
13		 BRH
10		 SIL
DNS		 2nd 77 1st
1986 Team Toyota GB/Duckhams Toyota Corolla GT C SIL
9		 THR
4		 SIL
7		 DON
4		 BRH
12		 SNE
7		 BRH
5		 DON
7		 SIL
8		 1st 85 1st
1987 Chris Hodgetts Motor Sport Toyota Corolla D SIL
8		 OUL
8		 THR
5		 THR
11		 SIL
9		 SIL
12		 BRH
7		 SNE
7		 DON
9		 OUL
3/5‡		 DON
8		 SIL 1st 84 1st
1988 MIL Motorsport Toyota Supra Turbo A SIL
8		 OUL
Ret		 THR DON
Ret		 THR
12		 SIL
Ret		 SIL BRH 33rd 7 13th
Brooklyn Motorsport Ford Sierra RS500 BRH
7		 BIR
C		 DON
3		 SIL
Ret
Demon Tweeks BMW M3 B SNE
Ret		 NC 0 NC
1989 Brooklyn Motorsport Ford Sierra RS500 A OUL
8		 SIL
6		 THR
Ret		 DON
DNQ		 THR
Ret		 SIL
7		 SIL
8		 BRH SNE BRH BIR
4		 DON
11		 SIL
5		 40th 6 14th
1990 Vauxhall Motorsport Vauxhall Cavalier B OUL DON
Ret‡		 THR SIL OUL
15		 SIL
12		 BRH
Ret		 SNE
11		 BRH BIR
8		 DON 16th 46 9th
Hawaiian Tropic Ford Sierra Sapphire THR
7		 SIL
13

‡ – Endurance driver

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. http://www.speedhunters.com/2008/09/car_spotlight_gt_gt_chms_toyota_corolla_ae86_touring_car/
  3. https://www.flickr.com/photos/trackside/8350773376
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. http://www.dlg.speedfreaks.org/archive/1994/1994.html
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 29 September 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. http://blog.toyota.co.uk/team-toyota-gb-driver-profile-chris-hodgetts
  8. http://media.toyota.co.uk/2012/08/chris-hodgetts-and-son-stefan-to-race-toyota-gt86/
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Andy Rouse		 British Touring Car Champion
1986–1987		 Succeeded by
Frank Sytner
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