Nicolas Hamilton joins Team VERTU for the 2026 British Tourism Car Championship season

After a career spent dealing with insufficient budgets and less competitive equipment, Nicolas Hamilton is entering a new dimension. The 33-year-old driver, brother of the seven-time world champion... Formula 1 Lewis Hamilton, joins the EXCELR8 team under the Team VERTU banner to compete in the 2026 BTCC (British Touring Car Championship) season driving a Hyundai i30 Fastback N supported by Draper Tools. He will be teammates with Tom Ingram, two-time championship champion, and Tom Chilton, two of the most experienced drivers on the grid.

Hamilton makes no secret of the importance of this turning point in his career: “Throughout my career, I’ve had to fight for funding and budgets, which has forced me to use lower-performing equipment. Thanks to my 2026 partners and long-time team partner Draper Tools, I can now benefit from higher-performing equipment, and this is a really special and exciting moment for me.”

A necessary partnership

The partnership between Draper Tools and EXCELR8 is one of the strongest in British motorsport. Beginning in 2019 when the team joined the BTCC after years of success in the MINI Challenge, it has now been extended until at least the end of the 2027 season. Hamilton becomes the first driver to wear the Draper Tools logo and the company's distinctive light blue colors. Sarah Hartland, Draper Tools' marketing director, emphasizes that this support goes beyond mere sponsorship: “Supporting Nicolas Hamilton in achieving his racing goals this season is an exciting step for us. The dedication of the entire EXCELR8 team, from the mechanics in the garage to Nic behind the wheel, perfectly embodies the commitment and passion that drive us.”

The Hyundai i30 Fastback N, which the Briton drives, dominated the 2025 season: nine wins, 32 podium finishes, and the Drivers' title for Ingram, as well as the Constructors' title for the team. Working alongside two drivers as experienced as Ingram and Chilton is in itself a valuable resource for Hamilton, who will be able to draw on their data and feedback to make rapid progress with a car he is still getting to know. He has already made his first impressions during a test session at Snetterton, before officially appearing in Draper Tools livery during the season-opening tests at Brands Hatch.

A long and obstacle-strewn path before this opportunity

Hamilton will contest his eighth BTCC season in 2026, eleven years after his debut in 2015 driving an AmD Tuning-entered Audi S3. Since then, he has moved between teams without ever having the resources to fully realize his potential: Motorbase with a Ford Focus RS, then Team HARD from 2020 in a Volkswagen CC before switching to a Cupra Leon for three seasons, and finally Un-Limited Motorsport in 2025 after a full year's absence in 2024. In 160 total starts, his best result remains a sixth-place finish in the rain during the second Donington race in 2023—a result that illustrates both his talent in difficult conditions and the limitations imposed by inadequate equipment.

Suffering from cerebral palsy, Hamilton approached this winter differently than previous ones, with intensified physical work to improve his condition: "I've worked harder than ever this winter to develop my strength and fitness in order to reduce my disability, and I'm going to give it my all to be as competitive as possible." This preparation reflects his determination to make the most of this opportunity, aware that he is gaining access for the first time to a package truly capable of playing leading roles.

"He is a source of inspiration for many."

Team owner Justina Williams sets the bar high for this shared season and makes no secret of the collective ambition: “Nicolas’s journey, overcoming adversity to achieve his dream of racing on the circuit despite his disability, is well-known, and he is an inspiration to many for his unwavering commitment to that dream. We believe we can give Nicolas the opportunity to fully demonstrate his capabilities this season, and we look forward to working with him to achieve his goals in the coming year, one of which is to reach the BTCC podium with the team. We will work tirelessly with him to make this happen.”

In 2026, Nicolas Hamilton will also be eligible for the Jack Sears Trophy, reserved for drivers who have not yet achieved more than one podium finish in the series, giving him an additional championship objective at each race, alongside the overall title fight. The first race of the season will take place on April 18th and 19th at Donington Park.

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