Nicolas Hamilton escapes car fire during British Touring Car Championship race at Silverstone. Nicolas Hamilton, brother of Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton, escaped unharmed after his car caught fire.

Lewis Hamilton’s brother escapes car fire during BTCC race at Silverstone

There was a real scare for the Hamilton family after Nicolas Hamilton, the brother of Ferrari Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, narrowly avoided being caught in a fire during a touring car race. What could have turned into a tragedy on Sunday fortunately ended without serious consequences.

The incident happened during the British Touring Car Championship at Silverstone, when on lap 18 the Cupra Leon driven by Nicolas suddenly caught fire. The British driver was able to quickly get out of the car without suffering any injuries.

Nicolas Hamilton speaks out on the incident

Nicolas commented on what happened through a post on his Instagram profile. “These photos represent a moment that was both disappointing and frightening for me, my friends, my family and all the fans at Silverstone. I managed to stay calm throughout the situation and tried to minimize the damage to the car. I am proud of how I handled such a difficult moment.”

He continued: “After the fire, I still don’t know if I will be able to take part in the final round of the season at Brands Hatch. If I am unable to race, I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been by my side throughout the year. To my family, my friends and my sponsors — thank you for supporting me and allowing me to keep following my dream. I am pleased with the progress I have made and I know I have always given my best behind the wheel.”

So far there has been no public reaction from Lewis Hamilton, who has always been very supportive of his brother’s racing career.