How did the deal with your new team come about ?
The coolest thing in a way is that I can really catch people out . What I mean by that is that most people think because of my brother I have things gifted to me on a plate ; and it ’ s not like that at all . When it came to WDE I literally just went on the Clio championship website , and looked through all the results from the past seasons . I saw WDE were one of the top teams . After that I sent some emails out and tried to get some deals together . It was all about finding something that would work for me as a driver and with the budget . WDE have a lot of experience – they ’ ve got a veteran – Paul Rivett – who is three time Clio champion , so that ’ s someone I can really learn from . I think it ’ s going to be a strong and really positive team .
Clios are familiar territory to you though …
I did 16 races in 2011 and 2012 , so not a huge amount of experience to shout about . Those races in ’ 11 and ’ 12 were really the first time I had driven anything in competition seriously , so it was a huge learning curve . I moved up to European Touring cars in 2013 , and BTCC in 2015 , which helped build my experience even further . Once you drive in a range of classes you realize there ’ s a lot of cross over in the skills . You can pretty much drive anything really . Coming back into Clio Cup – yeah you have to learn the new car , and then there are my modifications that need to go in . One thing is for sure ; it ’ s going to be a very tough series .
Have you had much time in the car for testing ?
We ’ ve only had two days in the car so far , but like I said I ’ m a lot more experienced than I have been at the start of previous seasons . The thing with Renault Clio Cup is that it is one of the toughest one-make championships going . Everyone is on the same kit , so the times will be tight . There will be 25 cars on the grid . I ’ ve got to work hard to develop my skills as the year goes on . I ’ m pretty used to being thrown in at the deep end to be honest , so I ’ m excited for it !
When people think of Nic Hamilton , what do you want them to think / say about you ?
I don ’ t want people to have a bad word to say about me . I try to keep myself as positive and strong and delightful as possible when I meet someone . Hopefully when they think of me , they think “ inspiring ”. Someone that has defied the odds , always conquering goals and trying to achieve them without fully having the ability .
The Hamilton name carries a lot of weight and responsibility , how do you want to stand out ?
Being a Hamilton brings lots of pros and cons , especially coming into motorsport . I ’ m always going to be in Lewis ’ shadow . Eventually I want to get to a point where I ’ m standing on my own , in my own light . Instead of Lewis Hamilton ’ s brother , it ’ s Nic Hamilton . It ’ s getting there slowly , I ’ m getting bigger profile wise just on my own . You ’ re never going to shy away from the whole connection of the Hamilton family and I ’ m proud of that because we ’ ve all worked so hard to get to where we are today .
When / how did the passion for driving start for you ?
I followed my brother from about the age of one . I was pretty much born at a race circuit . I never really knew much about it and I was at the circuit every weekend and started remembering drivers by their helmets . It was probably around the age of seven when I realised that I wanted to have a go but with a condition like mine , you don ’ t know what ’ s possible . I went in a little go-kart at that age and crashed and that scared my parents and from then it was pretty much “ racing isn ’ t for you ”. It just developed over time . I got into gaming and simulation gaming and got the opportunity to start my own career and develop my own career and my racing craft .
What are your current favourite video games for you right now ?
Well , I work and develop Project Cars so personally for me , I ’ ve got to say it ’ s my favourite . If it ’ s not racing , then probably Fifa , Call Of Duty , UFC is always good fun . A lot of my time goes on developing Project Cars 2 at the moment which should be out soon
What is your user handle ? Can people race you online ?
At the moment they can ’ t , but as soon as Project Cars 2 comes out , I ’ ll give people my handle so they can race me .
Do you prefer the VR world of racing or on the track ?
In a simulator , VR one hundred percent . Never use a monitor if you can help it . VR is absolutely phenomenal . I have one and I do all of my development on VR . Once you use VR you ’ ll never go back to the standard way . But nothing beats the real racing experience .
You seem to love to prove people wrong when they say you CAN ’ T do something . Who ’ s the last person you proved wrong and for what ?
Gosh , that ’ s a big question ! I suppose the most important one would be two things . My doctors saying I ’ ll never be able to walk and my dad saying I ’ ll never be able to drive really well . Proving those sort of people wrong and sitting here today with my car here , having a great test day , working on my legs all the time , it just makes me stronger . I think my dad actually believed in me , he just makes my life more difficult because he knows I ’ ll probably exceed his expectations
Aside racing , what other sports are