The court heard Mr Harding, who had completed a dissertation for his degree in football management days before his death and was awarded a 2:1 posthumously, had been excited to attend his first car meet.
Mr Harding was a talented footballer and had been a coach and mentor to hundreds of children in his local area, the court heard.
Paul Becker, prosecuting, said hundreds of people attended the car meet, which was advertised on Snapchat and initially held in St Helens, Merseyside.
A new location at Kingsland Grange in Woolston, Warrington, was advertised on social media and cars moved to the area.
The court heard Hodgson drove “like an idiot” on the motorway to get to the second location and once there drove circuits of the area.
Hodgson was driving down the “strip” when Mr Harding stepped into the road.
He sounded his horn and swerved but was unable to avoid him, the court heard.
Martyn Walsh, defending Hodgson, said: “Through me, he wishes to apologise and say sorry for what happened on that night.”
