Hold tight when the driver operates it! (6)

I believe the answer is:

clutch

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'hold tight' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for clutch that I've seen before include "Tightly hold" , "Keep hold of" , "Quantity of eggs: cling to" , "Result of laying" , "Hold the car mechanism tight" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish News.

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