Nicolas Hamilton, the younger brother of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, escaped uninjured after his car caught fire during the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Silverstone on Sunday. The 33-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, was competing in the event when an oil fire erupted in his Un-Limited Motorsport Cupra Leon, forcing him to pull over to the trackside.
Footage showed flames and dense black smoke billowing from the left-hand side of the vehicle. Hamilton managed to exit the car without assistance and later shared a video of the incident on social media, describing it as a 'scary moment' for himself, his family, and friends.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Hamilton said: 'I was surprisingly very calm throughout the whole situation, trying to save the car from any further damage whilst keeping myself safe. I am so proud of myself on how I handled the situation.' However, he admitted the fire damage has cast doubt on his participation in the final BTCC round at Brands Hatch next weekend.
Hamilton, who previously raced with Team Hard from 2021 to 2023 before the team folded, returned to the BTCC this season after an 18-month hiatus when Un-Limited Motorsport expanded to a third car. He expressed pride in his progress, stating: 'I personally feel I have been driving the best I EVER have driven in the BTCC to date.'
Meanwhile, his brother Lewis Hamilton endured a difficult weekend in Baku, finishing eighth at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, ahead of Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc. The British driver has yet to secure a podium finish this season.
