Lewis' half-brother Nicolas Hamilton to race in BTCC

Nicolas Hamilton, half brother of Lewis, will step up to the British Touring Car Championship in 2015 with a five-round stint in the AmD Tuning Audi S3.

Ollie Barstow

24 Mar 2015

Lewis' half-brother Nicolas Hamilton to race in BTCC

Nicolas Hamilton, half-brother of Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton, will make his Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship in 2015 with the AmD Tuning team, it has been confirmed.

The 22 year-old - who lives with the neurological condition Cerebral Palsy - will enter five events during the 2015 season driving an Audi S3, starting with the fifth event at Croft, in doing so becoming the first disabled competitor to race in BTCC.

With experience of racing in the Clio Cup UK and the European Touring Car Cup, Hamilton is delighted to be stepping up to the BTCC with AmD Tuning this year.

"I am incredibly excited to be racing in the BTCC with AmD Tuning this year," said Nicolas Hamilton. "The BTCC is the top national motorsport series here in the UK and having the opportunity to race at that level is the biggest challenge I've taken on in my career to date. I'm coming into the Championship with a lot to learn and my expectations are to develop as a driver as my programme across the season progresses.

"Whilst I'm aiming to improve as a driver, I'm also hoping to inspire others to strive for their own personal goals, whatever their situation in life. Anyone can 'Exceed Expectations' in one way or another and I hope to prove that when I race alongside, not just able-bodied drivers, but the best Touring Car drivers in the UK."

Following Croft, Hamilton will continue his season at Snetterton, Rockingham and Silverstone, before concluding at the Brands Hatch finale.

"We are pleased to announce that Nicolas has joined the AmD Tuning team," added team principal Shaun Hollamby. "The BTCC is a fiercely competitive series with hard wheel-to-wheel racing action on track and we have developed Nicolas's 2015 programme to ensure he enters the Championship with a level of preparation.

"We have a number of test sessions over the coming months, which will enable Nicolas to acclimatise to the car. Having observed Nicolas racing in the Renault Clio Cup and the ETCC, we know he is quick learner and a strong competitor, and we're looking forward to working with him this season."