Nicolas Hamilton, the younger brother of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, escaped unscathed after his car burst into flames during a British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) event at Silverstone. The 33-year-old, who was born with cerebral palsy, was competing in his Un-Limited Motorsport Cupra Leon when an oil fire broke out, forcing him to abandon the vehicle.
Fire was visible from the left-hand side of the car as thick black smoke billowed into the sky. Hamilton managed to exit the vehicle 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. He expressed pride in how calmly he handled the situation while trying to save the car from further damage.
However, the fire has cast doubt on his participation in the final round of the BTCC season at Brands Hatch next weekend. Hamilton acknowledged the uncertainty, thanking his friends, family, and sponsors for their support throughout the year. He stated that he feels he has been driving better than ever in the BTCC and is proud of his progress this season.
Hamilton had been without a BTCC seat for over 18 months after Team Hard folded due to financial troubles, before joining Un-Limited Motorsport this year. Meanwhile, his brother Lewis endured a difficult weekend at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, finishing eighth after starting 12th on the grid, and has yet to secure a podium finish in the 2024 Formula 1 season.
