Nicolas Hamilton's Terrifying Car Fire at Silverstone

Nicolas Hamilton, the 33-year-old brother of seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton, had a terrifying moment on Sunday during a BTCC race at Silverstone. His car, a Cupra Leon for Un-Limited Motorsport, suddenly caught fire on the 17th lap of 24.7, forcing him to make an emergency stop beside the Wellington Straight.

The Stevenage-born driver, who has cerebral palsy, managed to escape his vehicle unaided as smoke and flames engulfed the car. The incident prompted the deployment of the safety car, allowing the other drivers to continue circulating behind it. Fortunately, Hamilton was unharmed in the incident.

After the dramatic event, Hamilton took to Instagram to share his thoughts, stating: "What an amazing picture of a very disappointing and scary moment for me, my family and friends to start my Sunday at Silverstone. 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 incident has raised concerns about Hamilton's participation in the final round of the season at Brands Hatch next weekend. He expressed his gratitude to his friends, family, and sponsors for their support, saying: "If I don't get the opportunity to finish the season off, I want to thank absolutely everyone for getting behind me this year."

Nicolas Hamilton made a remarkable return to motorsport in March, joining Un-Limited Motorsport in the BTCC after a 20-month hiatus. Despite the setback, he remains proud of his progress this season, stating: "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."