Hodgetts does a ‘Hamilton’

MOMO’s Clio Cup team leader maintains his record of podium positions at every race, and doubles his Championship lead.

Third place in a treacherous Donington Park race on Sunday was enough for MOMO lead driver, 25-year old Stefan Hodgetts, to more than double his lead of the 2007 Elf Renault Clio Cup, as the challenge from his nearest championship rival, Martin Byford, slip-slided away.

Appropriately, Hodgetts and Byford lined up alongside on the 36-car grid after winning their respective qualifying races but drama unfolded almost immediately. Despite opting for wet tyres, both went off on the first lap, aquaplaning down Donington’s notorious Craner Curves.

Hodgetts’ Clio - entered by MOMO, the top Italian tuning, accessory and racewear brand - dropped to 12th but scythed his way through to seventh by the end of the lap and eventually bought the car home to third overall after 14 laps. This assured his consistent record of podium places from every round he has contested in this year’s Clio Cup.

Main rival Byford recovered from his first lap excursion to finish a distant eighth overall.

From five qualifying rounds, 25-year old Hodgetts has now scored four victories, a stream of fastest laps and now a third place, quipping; “If its good enough for Lewis Hamilton, its good enough for me!

“I’m naturally disappointed not to have made it five wins from five starts but it was great to fight back to the podium position after the first lap ‘off’, and double my points advantage over Martin,” he continued.

Hodgetts has extended his Clio Cup series lead over Byford from10 to 21 points, with four qualifying rounds remaining.

Despite the weather, this latest Clio Cup round saw the sun shine for 18-year old Robert Brown, Hodgetts’ team-mate in the second MOMO Clio.

Brown is gaining in experience and confidence as the season rolls on, and the latest result proves the point. At Donington Park, he had his best result of the year, as he revelled on the wet track, just missing out on a top ten finish amongst the 36-car grid.

The MOMO Clio team’s next outing is 28/29 July at Norfolk’s Snetterton circuit.

For more information on the famous MOMO range of race, tuning and style accessories, visit momo-uk.com.