Nicolas Hamilton made a remarkable escape from his burning Cupra Leon at Silverstone on Sunday, walking away unscathed after an oil fire engulfed his Un-Limited Motorsport vehicle on lap 17 of the scheduled 24-lap race. The 33-year-old racing driver from Stevenage, who competes with cerebral palsy, demonstrated extraordinary composure as smoke billowed from his car beside the Wellington Straight during Round 25 of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.
Hamilton, the disabled driver, was able to clamber out of the Cupra unaided despite the frightening circumstances, prompting officials to deploy the safety car for the remainder of the race. The incident marked a dramatic end to Hamilton’s race day, but more importantly highlighted the driver’s remarkable ability to handle crisis situations with calm determination.
The fire incident occurred during what had been a thrilling contest at the Silverstone National Circuit. Dan Lloyd took victory in a British Touring Car Championship opener at Silverstone that was abbreviated by a fire for Nicolas Hamilton. The Restart Racing driver secured his team’s maiden BTCC victory after leading from lap two, though the race concluded behind the safety car following Hamilton’s dramatic exit.
“What an amazing picture of a very disappointing and scary moment for me, my family and friends to start my Sunday at Silverstone,” Hamilton posted on Instagram following the incident. “I was surprisingly very calm throughout the whole situation, trying to save the car from any further damage whilst keeping myself safe and I am so proud of myself on how I handled the situation.”
The contest saw the now Independent Trophy leader start from fourth place, initially jumping reigning champion Jake Hill (Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport) on the opening lap as the field charged towards the first corner. Lloyd’s victory marked the culmination of what has been a challenging journey back to the top step of the podium.
The emotional significance of the win wasn’t lost on Lloyd, who broke down in tears after securing his fifth career BTCC victory. “This one’s just as, if not more, special to be honest,” said a tearful Lloyd. “I’m very, very emotional as I always am. It’s been a tough year, but we’ve kept going and going.”
Restart Racing’s Daniel Lloyd took home a mesmerising victory in Round 25 of the 2025 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, as the Huddersfield racer celebrated his first triumph in 1,078 days in sensational style. The victory represents a significant milestone for the Independent team, which only entered the championship at the beginning of 2024.
Hamilton’s escape from the burning vehicle was particularly remarkable given his ongoing battle with cerebral palsy. Nicolas Carl Hamilton (born 28 March 1992) is a British racing driver currently competing in the British Touring Car Championship for Powder Monkey Brewing Co with Esidock. He races with a specially-modified car due to his cerebral palsy.
After years of hard work and dedication in overcoming his condition from wheelchair bound to walking unaided by the age of 17, Hamilton has become an inspiration within motorsport. His specially adapted Cupra Leon features modifications including a hand clutch on the steering wheel and extra-wide accelerator and brake pedals to accommodate his condition.
The incident raises questions about Hamilton’s participation in the season finale at Brands Hatch next weekend. “After yesterday’s fire, there is a question mark on whether I will be driving for the last round of the season at Brands Hatch next weekend,” Hamilton revealed in his social media statement.
Hamilton, who has Cerebral Palsy, made history by becoming the BTCC’s first driver to compete with a disability when he entered the championship in 2015. His return to the series in 2025 came after a 20-month absence following the collapse of Team Hard in July 2023.
“But if I don’t get the opportunity to finish the season off, I want to thank absolutely everyone for getting behind me this year,” Hamilton continued. “Friends, family and sponsors for the continued love and support in helping me follow my dream and continue my journey.”
The race itself had been building to an exciting climax before Hamilton’s incident. Daryl DeLeon made a good getaway from pole position aboard his West Surrey Racing BMW 330i M Sport, while team-mate Jake Hill attempted to round the Speedworks Motorsport Toyota Corolla GR Sport of front-row qualifier Gordon Shedden at Copse Corner.
Lloyd capitalised on the early chaos, making his decisive move on lap two. With Shedden heading the field, Lloyd wasted no time as the #123 made his decisive move to the front, brilliantly placing his Hyundai i30 N down the inside of the Corolla GR Sport into Brooklands on only the second lap of the race.
Hamilton’s younger half-brother, seven-time Formula One World Champion Lewis Hamilton, has been a significant influence throughout Nicolas’s racing journey. The Stevenage driver’s determination to succeed despite his disability has made him a powerful advocate for inclusivity in motorsport.
“I personally feel I have been driving the best I EVER have driven in the BTCC to date and I am so proud of my progress this year,” Hamilton stated, reflecting on his 2025 season performance with Un-Limited Motorsport.
In joining Restart, Lloyd reunites with some of his past associates from his BTCC career. Team principal Ben Taylor and team-mate Chris Smiley were both at BTC Racing in 2018 when Lloyd claimed his maiden race victory in the series, making Sunday’s victory all the more meaningful for the tight-knit team.
The championship battle between Tom Ingram and Ash Sutton continues to intensify, with Ingram has inched his championship-leading margin out from 32 points to 33 following Sunday’s results. Both title contenders finished in the points, with Ingram seventh and Sutton eighth when the safety car brought proceedings to a premature end.
Gordon Shedden, who had been battling for the lead before the safety car intervention, reflected on what might have been. The Toyota driver suggested “it could have been quite fruity between the three of us” had the race run its full distance, with the leading trio on different turbo boost strategies.
For Restart Racing, Lloyd’s victory validates their decision to switch to Hyundai i30 N Fastback machinery for 2025. Managing Director Pete Jones had specifically targeted Lloyd for the seat, recognising his previous success with the car during the 2022 season when he scored three victories.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in touring car racing, where close competition and mechanical stress can lead to dramatic situations. Hamilton’s ability to extract himself from the burning vehicle without assistance demonstrated both the effectiveness of modern safety equipment and his own remarkable determination.
Hamilton’s journey from wheelchair user to professional racing driver remains one of the most inspiring stories in British motorsport. In 2015, Nicolas became the first disabled athlete to compete in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) and inspires both disabled and able-bodied individuals worldwide to show that pushing to better yourself regardless of your life situation is possible.
The BTCC paddock rallied around Hamilton following the incident, with competitors and teams expressing relief that he escaped unharmed. The championship’s commitment to safety was evident in the swift response from marshals and medical teams at the circuit.
Looking ahead to the season finale at Brands Hatch, uncertainty remains over whether Hamilton’s car can be repaired in time for the final rounds. Un-Limited Motorsport faces a race against time to assess the damage and potentially prepare a replacement vehicle for their inspirational driver.
Regardless of whether Hamilton makes the grid next weekend, his 2025 campaign has already cemented his status as one of the championship’s most respected competitors. His courage in the face of adversity, both on and off track, continues to inspire a new generation of drivers with disabilities to pursue their motorsport dreams.
The dramatic events at Silverstone encapsulated everything that makes the BTCC Britain’s most thrilling motorsport championship: wheel-to-wheel racing, emotional victories, and drivers who demonstrate extraordinary courage in the face of danger. For Dan Lloyd and Restart Racing, Sunday marked the beginning of what they hope will be a new chapter of success. For Nicolas Hamilton, it was another example of his indomitable spirit overcoming yet another challenge.
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