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?