MOTORSPORT: ‘Racing with the Hamiltons – Nic in the Driving Seat’ – Documentary on BBC One

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The story of Nicolas Hamilton’s first season as a professional racing driver will be the subject of a new BBC One documentary to be shown tonight at 10.35pm.

Racing with the Hamiltons: Nic in the Driving Seat follows the 19-year-old’s remarkable rise into top-level motor racing, and his family’s close involvement throughout a tough but rewarding debut season.

Nic faces a greater challenge behind the wheel than most drivers that are attempting to break through into the ultra-competitive motor racing world because he has cerebral palsy, a condition which leads to severe problems with movement, co-ordination and posture.

Having been surrounded by motorsport for the majority of his life, and witnessing his older brother climb through the ranks, Nic always wanted to race but never had the opportunity or confidence to do so, until last year.

Lewis, who became Formula 1 world champion in 2008, has often described him as his ‘greatest inspiration’, while his father Anthony is actively involved in his youngest son’s career, alongside his role as manager to several grand prix drivers.

The BBC documentary tells the story of Nic’s first season in the UK-based AirAsia Renault Clio Cup, a series which is part of the support package to the British Touring Car Championship.

Onboard with Nic Hamilton at Brands Hatch GP
Clip courtesy of Nic Hamilton’s Official YouTube channel

With his family trackside and brother Lewis on hand for advice, Nic is determined to prove that he can go beyond his disability and a career as a top level driver for years to come.

Amidst a huge amount of media attention Nic made his debut at Brands Hatch last April, with brother Lewis, who flew over from Kuala Lumpur where he was racing in the Australian Grand Prix the weekend before, watching on and lending him moral support in paddock on his debut race weekend.

Despite a positive start to his first season, he overcame several setbacks, including a high-speed crash in testing at Thruxton that seriously threatened to end his career before it really started.

But he found the courage to get back in the driving seat and despite his limited racing experience, Nic managed to finish 14 out of 16 races in his debut season, including a best 9th place finish in the penultimate round of the championship around the demanding Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit.

This moving documentary, produced by Whisper Films, captures the highs and lows of starting out a career in high-level motorsport, including footage from Nic’s first season of racing in the fiercely competitive Clio Cup, and demonstrates his determination to make his own name and career in motorsport.

It also looks at how one ordinary young man pushes beyond his disability to take on an extraordinary challenge.

Nic’s documentary is part of the BBC’s Beyond Disability season, a series of programmes which will be screened throughout March that profiles various stories about families coping with the effects of disability.

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Racing with the Hamiltons: Nic in the Driving Seat
Tuesday 6th March – 10.35pm-11.30pm – BBC One
 
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