#12 - Chris Hodgetts

Chris Hodgetts is a double British Touring Car Champion (BTCC), TVR Tuscan Champion, British GT Champion, Le Mans 24 hour winner and driver coach to future racing stars. In this conversation he shares his rich history in motor racing, from his early days as a milkman to becoming a celebrated driver and coach. He discusses his passion for motorcycles and the Isle of Man, the influences that shaped his career, and the transition from amateur racing in karting and Clubsports to professional driver in BTCC, Le Mans, and British GT, and from team owner to coach. Chris discusses key moments in his racing career from overcoming his fears to first race at Le Mans to racing in Japan and the journey to becoming a factory driver for Mazda in their famous 767b rotary engine racer. Finally Chris talks about the nurturing of young talent with Elite motorsport, particularly focusing on the promising career of Red Bull F1 Academy driver Alisha Palmowski. #dontliftoff #btcc #toyota #lemans #mazda Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Chris Hodgetts 04:11 Passion for the Isle of Man 08:45 The Milky Bar Kid 20:06 Early Racing Career and Jim Whitehouse's influence 30:01 Transition to Professional Racing35:01 Racing Memories and Early Challenges 38:15 The Road to Silverstone 41:40 A Life-Changing Opportunity 44:51 The British Touring Car Championship Journey 48:10 Transitioning to Team Ownership 52:28 The Rise of the Toyota Corolla Team 56:43 The Competitive Edge and Challenges 01:01:14 Reflections on Career Decisions 01:06:17 International Racing Adventures 01:08:27 Le Mans Adventures and Championship Wins 01:10:05 The Thrill of Racing in Japan 01:15:42 Facing Fears and Overcoming Challenges 01:18:57 The Mazda 767b Experience and the Racing Dynamics Team 01:20:39 Building Connections in the Racing Community 01:25:40 The Journey to Becoming a Factory Driver 01:32:18 The Mazda Legacy and Its Impact 01:41:24 Reflections on Racing Friends and Memories 01:44:16 The Journey Begins: From Racing to Coaching 01:47:13 Memorable Races and Championships 01:51:05 The Evolution of Karting and Its Impact 01:54:05 Family Ties and Personal Stories 02:03:17 Nurturing Young Talent with Elite Motorsport 02:12:47 Alisha Palmowski: The first female F1 driver?