Hodgson is no sissy when it comes to speed. Kuun said: ‘Guy is faster than half the rally field’. Hodgson sports an impressive track record as a driver, in that he won overall on index performance in the Clubmans three hour race two years in a row. A blown engine, put an end to his aspirations of making it a hat trick last year. Showing confidence in a navigator temporarily turning driver, BP Volkswagen Racing is sponsoring Hodgson this year, which includes Eastern Province Champion, Dion Slabbert’s Class A 2 liter Volkswagen Golf. The combination of Hodgson and a regular pole sitting car is hot.
When asked how he deals with being in the driver’s seat Hodgson said: ‘I’m so used to competing at these speeds (rally), that I automatically apply it when racing. These are very dangerous speeds and I have zip skill’. Quite a modest response considering his good track record behind the steering wheel.
Hodgson is also a Springbok Rally Navigator. In his 25 years in the ‘hot’ seat, he navigated for Champions in Europe, Britain and South Africa. Navigating for talent such as ten times South African Champion Serge Damseaux, North European Champion John Bosch and British Champion Tony Pond, taught him just exactly how fast a car should be driven.
Guy has also competed in the nine hour endurance race at Killarney, finishing second overall on index of performance. The Index of Performance is a handicap system where the winner is the driver who laps consistently closest to his fastest lap time. ‘Therefore speed and consistency are crucial to success.’ Hodgson said.
Will he swap his navigator’s seat in rally for the driver’s seat? ‘Enzo move over …..’ was the tongue in cheek response from Guy.