NGK-sponsored racing driver Nic Hamilton, brother of six-time world F1 champion Lewis, is looking forward to returning to the track this month after being forced out of the last round of the 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship.

Hamilton missed the last round of the championship at Knockhill after his team, Team HARD Racing, was forced to withdraw two of the squad’s Volkswagen CCs following a race incident at Oulton Park.

Ollie Brown was forced to pull out on medical grounds after sustaining a hairline fracture of the rib in the incident with Hamilton and Stephen Jelly on lap ten at Druids. Hamilton’s car sustained substantial chassis damage which, with the nature of the condensed 2020 season, was unable to be fixed in such a short turnaround between events.

He said: “Unfortunately it was a case of the wrong place at the wrong time. I tried everything to avoid Stephen, but once I got onto the wet grass and tapped by Ollie, I was powerless to stop the car heading to the inside barrier. The crash was completely unavoidable on a narrow track and on the fastest part of the track. It was massive, but I am well and healthy, and I have no more aches and pains than I usually suffer with my condition.

Hamilton, whose Volkswagen CC is modified to allow him to compete with cerebral palsy, added: “I’ll be back at Thruxton ready to push for more BTCC points.”

Mark Hallam, Marketing Manager, NGK Spark Plugs said, “Thankfully Nic was unhurt in the incident at Oulton Park and naturally disappointed to miss the last round at Knockhill. However, knowing how determined he is, I’m sure he will be giving his all at Thruxton on September 19 and 20 when no doubt all NGK customers who are fans of BTCC will be rooting for him.”