Interview: Jodie Kidd
Jodie Kidd
26 October 2009
Dominic Sacco speaks to model and racer Jodie Kidd on dirty driving, ‘Doris’ and the ultimate mystery – Who is The Stig?
“I was never taken seriously in racing as the only woman racing against 25 other guys.
“But they took me seriously when they couldn’t overtake me anymore”.
Jodie lets out her model smile as she recalls her early racing experiences.
“I’ve been in male-dominated sports my entire life”, she explains. “I’m used to going up against the boys.
The Guildford-born model might be used to going up against the boys, but what about smashing into them?
“When I started winning they gave me a little respect – but started driving dirty and clipped the back of my car”.
Gallery: Click below to view images of hot new Xbox game Forza 3 Motorsport
Little ol’ Doris
Coming from the cut-throat world of fashion-modelling, such unsporting behaviour is unlikely to deter one of the UK’s most famous personalities.
She began modelling at the tender age of 15 after being spotted on a beach in Barbados – from there Jodie graced the cover of Elle magazine in America, Singapore, Portugal, Italy and Sweden, British Vogue and The Face, as well as fronting the Monsoon advertising campaign.
She’s even tagged up a couple of film roles too, in 1997 flick Prince Valiant and 1999’s Mad Cows.
But it was after her stint heading up the Top Gear Star in a Reasonably Priced Car leaderboard that her motoring career really took off. In 2004, she was selected to race by Maserati, and won her first race in December behind the wheel of a Maserati Trofeo GranSport.
But before she was racing Maseratis, Jodie learnt to drive in an old mk1 Volkswagen Polo called Doris – in red.
“It had about ten billion miles on the clock but was very sweet. We lived in a deserted road in the country so I used to take the rubbish out in it”
In fact, Jodie has a soft spot for old and used cars.
“If I was Bill Gates I would buy every single second-hand car in the world”, she laughs, cackling like Dr Evil from Austin Powers.
“I found my Land Rover 90 on Auto Trader. I love searching around seeing how much cars are - second-hand cars nowadays are phenomenal”.
Search for a used Land Rover on Auto Trader
Virtual Veyron
Phenomenal yes – but packing 1,001bhp? Only one car measures up to that role.
“I did the hill climb at Goodwood in a Bugatti Veyron – I finally got to sit in one”, she gushes, clearly won over by the charms of the world’s most famous hypercar.
Jenson Button's Bugatti Veyron for sale
“It is absolutely beautiful and still my number one dream car. The 1,001bhp speaks for itself. I’ve not driven one yet – but I will, even if it kills me”.
The Veyron features in hot new Xbox 360 game Forza 3 Motorsport too.
Gallery: Jodie was at the launch of Forza 3 Motorsport - along with Murray Walker
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“I haven’t got that far in the game yet”, Jodie confesses. “I’m only driving a Citroen C4 in Forza at the moment”.
Search for a used Bugatti Veyron on Auto Trader
“But it is an amazing game. The cars react properly and how you would expect them too – it’s spooky.”
So she’s clearly a big fan of the big Bug’, but what about if a gentlemen drove one of these to ensnare one of the world’s most beautiful women?
“Something sprang to my mind but you couldn’t print it”, Jodie replies, deadpan.
So guys with flash motors are a turn off?
“If they know how to drive them properly, fair enough”, she muses.
Who is The Stig?
Someone who can drive – and pretty well, actually – is everyone’s favourite helmeted hero: The Stig.
“I know who The Stig is”, Jodie says, with a grin. “But I would have to kill you if I told you. Do you value your life?”
Perhaps then, she’s The Stig’s sister, or cousin?
“I may even be The Stig, who knows…but I would still have to kill you if I told you”.
Forza Motorsport 3 is available now on Xbox 360.
Who is The Stig? Click below to view our image gallery
Video: Forza 3 Motorsport
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