Yes, as soon as he says go, turn on your cruise engines.
(in fact on my screen it popped up "it's a good idea to use cruise engines" before the race)
Then what you're going to want to do is aim your cursor just inside the inside side of the ring (does that make sense?) This will allow you to waste less time flying where you don't need to go. Third, you really don't want to be in a freighter unless you're a very good pilot, it isn't easy to turn them as needed. I can't be sure, but I THINK i had the cavalier at the time. It flew through wonderfully. I was way behind for most of the race (for some reason his cruise engines turn on immediately) however he slows down towards the end and it's just basically a straight flight through the last few rings. Ignore the weapons platforms, they don't really do much damage.

I beat Hovis in a Dromedary Freighter, the trick is to hit cruise only to start the race. That will get your ship moving and once cruise engages you will be at top speed as soon as possible. Then use your port and starboard thrusters to cut the corners more sharply than Hovis does. In that way you will gain ground on him.

It will still be a close race, but you will win it pretty soon.

I couldn't see whats so hard about this. I beat it on my first try. Just turned on the cruise engines, switched to 3rd person, and pointed my ship into the rings

Actually, the ONLY way I could beat him was to hit the thrusters for about 5 seconds and then hit the cruise right after the first ring.....

Any other way and he is infront of you.

I thought I screwed up the first time i tried it, I didn't turn on my cruise engines in the first few seconds, so naturally he was ahead of me at first. But I just flew on in cruise mode,pointed my ship to the next ring (getting awfully close to the egde of the ring a few times) and at the end of the race I came in first.

Why are there so many threads about this? I had a standard fighter ship, put on cruise and just followed the purple waypoint triangles to the next ring and did it first time. If anything I thought it was too easy, try the races in GTA3 if you want to see a tough one.

It doesn't matter if he's in front of you. There is a scripted event where's he's like CRASH "whaattt???" he screws up or something and you pass him. All you had to do is stay close.


I can't believe how many are having a problem with this in the forums I've visisted. It was really easy

YES!!! I did beat Hovis in 2 tries once i bought the Fighter on the station. That was the key.

i beat the SP mission about 2 hours ago.

I do appreciate your help everyone, thank you.

i just beat him first try in a Titan (.. don't ask) and it wasn't that hard. i was tempted to put a wasp in his tailpipe at the start but figured i'd just steer him into the floor.

I beat him first try entirely by luck. As soon as i pressed ok at the screen telling you that "Cruise engines are a good idea", i punched in cruise engines so i got going before he did, i was leading at the second ring, then he got above me at the third ring and tried to go through before me but bounced off and missed the ring. and so he was a long way behind when i finished. Total fluke.