Nicolas Hamilton: Younger brother of Lewis makes 'extraordinary' debut in British Touring Car Championship

Nicolas Hamilton made a British Touring Car debut despite having cerebral palsy

Nicolas Hamilton made a British Touring Car debut despite having cerebral palsy (Getty)

If Nicolas Hamilton was able-bodied, his debut last weekend in the British Touring Car Championship at Croft would have been acceptable. But the 23-year-old, younger brother of Lewis, has a form of cerebral palsy and had to fight his way out of a wheelchair.

“When you look at what he’s achieved at the weekend, as a disabled driver,” said Shaun Hollamby, the head of Hamilton’s AmDtuning team, “it’s been extraordinary.”

Hamilton crashed a kart at the age of seven. “It scared me and my parents. So I just focused on education, then went into my wheelchair,” Hamilton said. “But I realised that, if I worked hard enough, I could put my legs in a good place to be able to race. Now I’m here. And if I wasn’t racing my condition wouldn’t be as good as it is.”

Is he racing to prove something? “No. This is what I’ve dreamt about and I’m now living it. But obviously I’ve noticed I can reach out and inspire people at the same time to push for their goals, so now I’m also doing it for them.”

Two brothers, two very different battles, the same big heart. “Whenever I’m having a hard time I look at Nic and he inspires me,” Lewis said.” He keeps me grounded.”