Scary scenes, quick reactions
Nicolas Hamilton walked away unhurt after his Cupra Leon caught fire on lap 18 of the first British Touring Car Championship race at Silverstone. The 33-year-old swiftly exited the car, but the blaze caused extensive damage and forced him to miss the remainder of the weekend, ending a run of 25 consecutive race starts.
“Very disappointing and scary moment”
In a reflective social post, Hamilton thanked fans, family and sponsors for their support and hinted his season could be over ahead of the Brands Hatch finale: “I was surprisingly very calm… trying to save the car from any further damage whilst keeping myself safe… 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.”
Next steps
The team will assess the extent of the damage to determine whether a return is feasible for the final round. Regardless, Hamilton’s composure and escape underscored his experience and focus under pressure.
