HODGETTS TO MAKE BTCC DEBUT AT MONDELLO PARK
Hodgetts will race a Vauxhall Astra for the Team Sureterm
squad, in place of Charlie Butler-Henderson.
Hodgetts starred in last year's one-make SEAT Cupra Championship
and Mondello marks the first time since that he will have
come up against Robert Huff who beat him to the title - and
the dream prize of a BTCC drive with the Spanish manufacturer.
His one-off appointment follows news that Gavin Smith - one
of the favourites for this year's SEAT title - will also make
his BTCC debut at Mondello in Sureterm's other Astra.
Hodgetts, aged 22, said: "I've no personal grudge or
vendetta against Rob - I want to beat him as much as I want
to beat Yvan Muller. I've never raced at Mondello and I've
never raced a Touring Car, but I honestly believe a podium
is a possibility in one of the three races.
"I'm absolutely over the moon to be racing in the BTCC.
I'll only have the two practice sessions on Saturday to learn
the track and the car before qualifying, but this is my big
chance and I fully intend to make the most of it."
Sureterm team manager Ian Blackman added: "This team
is all about young, talented drivers so Stefan fits in perfectly.
I'm sure he can jump in the car and impress a lot of people
on his debut. The fact we have two new drivers, Stefan and
Gavin, in our team in one weekend is of no worry - we are
all very excited by their arrival."
Hodgetts is the son of Chris Hodgetts, the last driver to
win back-to-back BTCC titles in 1986 and 1987 driving Toyota
Corollas.
Victories in the SEAT series aside, Stefan's background includes
British Formula Three, Formula Renault UK and Formula Vauxhall
- a category in which he won races against the likes of Gary
Paffett and Ryan Dalziel, now leading lights in Germany's
DTM and Amercia's Toyota Atlantic series respectively.
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