2023: BTCC chat & discussion

[ninepoint2]

I don't in any way wish to make light of Sam's incident but from what I've seen on TV it didn't seem a particularly violent accident compared to many much more dramatic incidents in BTCC, Rob Collard and Rory Butcher for instance where they both walked away with nothing like the injuries sustained by Sam. Are the Minis inherently not as robust as a Touring Car?

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

I am glad that he is recovering. But do we know the cause of the accident?

[Drumroll]

ninepoint2 said:

I don't in any way wish to make light of Sam's incident but from what I've seen on TV it didn't seem a particularly violent accident compared to many much more dramatic incidents in BTCC, Rob Collard and Rory Butcher for instance where they both walked away with nothing like the injuries sustained by Sam. Are the Minis inherently not as robust as a Touring Car?

So many variables as to make a comparison almost impossible.

[GlobalRacer]

InfamousK said:

To be fair I'm a bit shocked that's his best finish in the BTCC, feels like he's been in it for at least four years, is he unlucky or just a bit crap?

For a driver who can barely walk and has huge issues with just driving the car and regularly cracks ribs going over kerbs it's a long, long way from him being "just crap".

I guess you could say that the fact that he has cerebral palsy and is competing against a field of drivers with no such issues is "unlucky".

[Presuming Ed]

InfamousK said:

To be fair I'm a bit shocked that's his best finish in the BTCC, feels like he's been in it for at least four years, is he unlucky or just a bit crap?

I'll make the assumption you don't know he has Cerebral Palsy?

[James_N]

Pleased for Nic. I suffer with CP in exactly the same way he does.

Have to say though, it doesn't affect my driving ability at all but pleased he's got 6th!

[mat205125]

InfamousK said:

mat205125 said:

super7 said:

LukeBrown66 said:

Dont know if anyone saw him, but Lewis was there at the weekend.

very well wrapped up and incognito, but he was there.

Is that why Nicolas Hamilton had his Visor down during his interview on the grid...... it was really Lewis!!!

That would be really funny if it was Lewis ...... as he very quickly disappeared backwards down the standings.

To be fair I'm a bit shocked that's his best finish in the BTCC, feels like he's been in it for at least four years, is he unlucky or just a bit crap?

Given the physical challenges that he deals with, I think that Hamilton is an inspiration for how well he does in such a high level racing car ..... Sure, he's been in the series and the car for a while, however I doubt there'd be many of us that could leap into his car and be faster without some considerable time, testing, and training.

[GlobalRacer]

James_N said:

Pleased for Nic. I suffer with CP in exactly the same way he does.

Have to say though, it doesn't affect my driving ability at all but pleased he's got 6th!

In a race car or a road car?

[BMR]

Drumroll said:

ninepoint2 said:

I don't in any way wish to make light of Sam's incident but from what I've seen on TV it didn't seem a particularly violent accident compared to many much more dramatic incidents in BTCC, Rob Collard and Rory Butcher for instance where they both walked away with nothing like the injuries sustained by Sam. Are the Minis inherently not as robust as a Touring Car?

So many variables as to make a comparison almost impossible.

I guess it’s the thought that bigger accidents look worse but actually dissipate the energy better.

I’m assuming Sam Smith was knocked out when he hit Dan Zelos initially.

[bumskins]

GlobalRacer said:

James_N said:

Pleased for Nic. I suffer with CP in exactly the same way he does.

Have to say though, it doesn't affect my driving ability at all but pleased he's got 6th!

Interesting to have the point of view from someone in a similar boat tbh as opposed to all the demeaning pandering crap "Awww hasn't he done well because of his disability etc.", sure he's never heard that before - i'd get sick of it. From memory Nic regularly manages to battle/beat the other privateers down the tail end, so I wouldn't say he's 'just a bit crap' as he's clearly the equal of Rick Parfitt, Jade Edwards etc.

[Sgt Joe Roberts]

InfamousK said:

To be fair I'm a bit shocked that's his best finish in the BTCC, feels like he's been in it for at least four years, is he unlucky or just a bit crap?

That's an incredibly harsh comment. Nic Hamilton is an inspiration to many people. The guy is racing using hand controls to compensate for his physical disabilities. He's racing in the most high profile series in the UK sharing a grid with some of the best tin top racers this country has ever produced.

His results aren't going to put him in contention for race or championship wins but that also applies to half the grid. It also applies to all of his current and former team mates as Team Hard have not been capable of building competitive cars. Is that Nic Hamilton's fault, no it isn't. He has performed well enough to maintain a race seat in BTCC for a number of years. In my opinion he has performed much better than the likes of Osborne, Butel, Edwards, Parfitt and others over the past few years who've been in race winning machinery and teams, who's team mates are qualifying in the top ten, scoring podiums and race wins, while they're punting each other off scraping over 21st place. On the whole Nic Hamilton's performance is comparable to the others in Team Hard cars.

[MB140]

Presuming Ed said:

InfamousK said:

To be fair I'm a bit shocked that's his best finish in the BTCC, feels like he's been in it for at least four years, is he unlucky or just a bit crap?

I'll make the assumption you don't know he has Cerebral Palsy?

The Wookie on here (Ollie Jackson in real life) regularly posts on here about Nick Hamilton. He's of the opinion he's probably personally maybe 1-2 10ths per lap of the very best like sutton and cammish etc. He is normally in older cars that aren't quite as developed/ran as well as the very best.

Along with his physical limitations i think he does an astounding job and would wipe the floor with 99.9% of people on Pistonheads when it comes to driving race cars.

With the injuries he sustains due to his illness i can only admire what he has achieved. The dedication it must take to keep on doing it.

I personally met Nick once when i did a VIP day with Rob Austin at Brooklands, Nick was driving in the mini series at the time, he was polite, engaging, had time for everybody who wished to talk to him despite most people just wanting to ask about Lewis he never showed any level of annoyance and was happy to talk.

I think he is a credit to his family and the sport he has chosen to participate in.

[TheBinarySheep]

Lewis on his brother at the weekend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0ulabO82tw

[James_N]

GlobalRacer said:

In a race car or a road car?

Only a road car unfortunately!

[MB140]

Qualifying from Brands Hatch about to start.

Shown on BTCC live stream (YouTube)

[Smollet]

Sgt Joe Roberts said:

InfamousK said:

To be fair I'm a bit shocked that's his best finish in the BTCC, feels like he's been in it for at least four years, is he unlucky or just a bit crap?

That's an incredibly harsh comment. Nic Hamilton is an inspiration to many people. The guy is racing using hand controls to compensate for his physical disabilities. He's racing in the most high profile series in the UK sharing a grid with some of the best tin top racers this country has ever produced.

His results aren't going to put him in contention for race or championship wins but that also applies to half the grid. It also applies to all of his current and former team mates as Team Hard have not been capable of building competitive cars. Is that Nic Hamilton's fault, no it isn't. He has performed well enough to maintain a race seat in BTCC for a number of years. In my opinion he has performed much better than the likes of Osborne, Butel, Edwards, Parfitt and others over the past few years who've been in race winning machinery and teams, who's team mates are qualifying in the top ten, scoring podiums and race wins, while they're punting each other off scraping over 21st place. On the whole Nic Hamilton's performance is comparable to the others in Team Hard cars.

I think considering his physical shortcomings he does a bloody good job and has out driven a lot more physically capable drivers. He also comes across as a very grounded individual which is more than be said of some of his competitors over the years. Good luck to the bloke.

[jm8403]

InfamousK said:

To be fair I'm a bit shocked that's his best finish in the BTCC, feels like he's been in it for at least four years, is he unlucky or just a bit crap?

What is the best finishing position you have achieved?

[sanguinary]

Smollet said:

Sgt Joe Roberts said:

InfamousK said:

To be fair I'm a bit shocked that's his best finish in the BTCC, feels like he's been in it for at least four years, is he unlucky or just a bit crap?

That's an incredibly harsh comment. Nic Hamilton is an inspiration to many people. The guy is racing using hand controls to compensate for his physical disabilities. He's racing in the most high profile series in the UK sharing a grid with some of the best tin top racers this country has ever produced.

His results aren't going to put him in contention for race or championship wins but that also applies to half the grid. It also applies to all of his current and former team mates as Team Hard have not been capable of building competitive cars. Is that Nic Hamilton's fault, no it isn't. He has performed well enough to maintain a race seat in BTCC for a number of years. In my opinion he has performed much better than the likes of Osborne, Butel, Edwards, Parfitt and others over the past few years who've been in race winning machinery and teams, who's team mates are qualifying in the top ten, scoring podiums and race wins, while they're punting each other off scraping over 21st place. On the whole Nic Hamilton's performance is comparable to the others in Team Hard cars.

I think considering his physical shortcomings he does a bloody good job and has out driven a lot more physically capable drivers. He also comes across as a very grounded individual which is more than be said of some of his competitors over the years. Good luck to the bloke.

Just seen a short piece on the run up to this morning’s race. How he manages to get the fine control needed for one of these cars, with the feet and pedal setup he has to use, is quite frankly mind boggling. He was saying how much a race weekend wipes him out. Serious dedication there, which I doubt I could match.

[rallycross]

Nice comment from Jade E ref Nick H


Every year when Nicolas Hamilton announces his drive - something that should be one of the highlight moments of a drivers season, I sit and read comment after comment of completely uneducated, unjustified negativity towards him…

Yesterday, Nic showed the motorsport world why the ‘Never Give Up’ attitude pays off in the end.

I’ve shared a grid with Nic since the Clio days, and I can’t express to those watching what this guy goes through to complete a race distance - and yesterday he drove the race of his life…There’s not a driver on the BTCC grid who isn’t over the moon for him!

Mat Acton Photography capturing the moment perfectly as always!

[jm8403]

Are they all off schedule? Race one is supposed to have happened according to timetable I seen but no result on tsl?