Racing with the Hamiltons: Nic in the Driving Seat

Brazil, 2008. Nic Hamilton watches his brother Lewis

clinch the Formula 1 World Championship.

Lewis Hamilton comes through to become

the 2008 Formula 1 World Champion!

When I was younger, I wanted to copy him - his style,

the things he said, did, the actions that he did.

As I've grown-up now, I want to be like him, but different.

I want to be my own person.

As well as the pressure of being a Hamilton, Nic has a disability.

I've never had a day in my life where something hasn't hurt.

Now at 19, his life is about to take a huge and unexpected twist.

More than anything, he's got to either get a job,

or go to university.

It isn't a case of knocking on Lewis's door, saying,

"Big Brother, I know you've got lots of money - help me".

He wants to achieve something on his own,

not because of the association with me.

He's chosen to enter the Clio Cup - a championship for young drivers aiming for the big time.

-Great move! Wow!

-That's genetic, that is!

Yet he has never raced a car in his life.

Years ago, I'd never even thought about doing anything like that.

The Hamilton family has allowed unprecedented access

as Nic embarks on a career as a racing driver.

-What am I doing wrong?

-You looked way before it.

I always say my brother is an inspiration to me. He'll get back up and try again.

Life is twice as hard for Nic.

So, he's going to experience love that is twice as hard.

By the end of the season, Nic will discover whether he can make a career of his own

in the dangerous world of motorsport.

If he'd said, "I don't want to race", I'd have said thank goodness.

I'm the only person that has to get in the car

and worry about their disability.

The year that could change the life of 19-year-old Nic Hamilton

begins at Brands.

Nic will be competing in one of the UK's top saloon-car Championships.

The Clio Cup is known for its wheel-to-wheel racing at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour.

It's coming back, but I want it to go in again, so it's slipping in.

His brother is Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton.

Lewis should be 7,000 miles away,

preparing for the Malaysian Grand Prix.

-64?

-Yeah.

-You're not 64.

-I'm 64!

Unlike the other 17 drivers on the grid, Nic has never raced before.

He also has cerebral palsy.

Nic was born at 31 weeks, so he was two months premature.

When he was born,

he wasn't breathing,

so he was immediately taken away to the special care baby unit.

I actually didn't get to see him until the next day.

Anthony took a picture and that was it, really.

He was on a ventilator for five days

and then he was in the special care unit for five weeks.

I couldn't hold him for three weeks. So yeah, it was tough. It was tough.

We didn't notice a problem early on, just the fact that he wasn't

beginning to progress with his walking.

We didn't know he had a disability until he was a year, 18 months.

That's when we decided to see a specialist.

He said Nic has cerebral palsy, he has spastic diplegia,

which means it generally affects both of his legs.

He said that he wasn't...

He couldn't say if he would ever walk.

The family made no special allowances.

My poor brother, you know - he's seven years younger than me.

I've never, ever let him beat me - at anything. We could be playing...

Doesn't matter what it was.

Even a race to go running, I'd never let him beat me, when I was younger.

I think something we always loved to do was play computer games.

When I moved away, I bought us two exact same computers -

bad-ass computers, basically.

And we used to hook up online.

-Nic, can you hear me?

-How're you doing?

-My brother plays computer games more than anyone I know.

-Here we go.

Easy!

Oh, Nic!

I use pedals,

so I can modulate the brake and the throttle.

He'd use the buttons on the steering wheels.

When you press a button, it's either 100% or nothing.

I don't know how he did it, but he'd always beat me. He's so quick.

One day, no lie, I spent... He went to school,

and I spent the whole day on this track.

By the time he finished school, I'd just beat his time.

I was so happy! He came home, five minutes and he beat my time!

Lewis!

Oh, I'm on the grass!

The way Nic drove on the games, was...

He knew racing lines and he knew where to brake

and where not to and what have you.

I think Lewis had seen that in him.

Where is everybody?

Cos I was so comfortable and confident driving online,

-Lewis said, "you should try it in real life".

-Come on, man.

I'd always say, "I don't think I'd be any good in real life".

It's not like you can go off and press "Escape" and get a brand-new car!

He was constantly asking me, "Do you really think I'd be able to do it?"

I'd say, "Yes, I think, Nic..."

He's seriously got some talent there,

so it's about nurturing it and giving him the opportunity.

Some people don't get opportunities, fortunately,

we're in a great position that we're able to do that.

In 2011, Nic decided to see

if his success on the computer could be transferred to the racetrack.

I'm hoping we can move this either back or round...

He's starting in the Renault Clio Championships,

driving for the TCR racing team.

Lewis's success in Formula 1 means Nic gets access to

the best in motorsport.

OK, Nic - Austin is just modifying one of the seatbelt brackets

to clear a seatbelt mounting eye.

We've left them especially long,

because we have to put a brace on.

-They're taller than the standard ones.

-OK.

McLaren has been behind such world champions as Alain Prost

and Ayrton Senna.

Here, they're trying to modify the road-going Clio for Nic.

Strengthen it all up.

I want to be high, because normally, when you hit a brake pedal,

or any pedal, you have to push away from yourself.

Because I break with the bottom of my foot and not my toes, when I hit

the brake pedal, I want to be pushing downwards instead of away from me.

-Here, I need the pedals a lot closer. I don't want to be stretching.

-100mm?

We'll be modifying the seat position, the pedals.

We'll put the clutch on the steering wheel,

because we want to lose the clutch pedal.

All those things will help Nic overcome his disabilities

and be competitive.

We're not going to be doing anything to this car

to improve its performance.

It's down to his skill and ability as to how he does on the track.

You can see I've mastered a way to get out, for my legs.

It's not a normal way to get out, just use the arms.

Drag the legs out.

The first of Nic's eight race weekends is at Brands Hatch -

a name synonymous with British motorsport.

Use more engine revs, more engine braking.

Straight away, you've got a good half a second, I reckon, off your lap time.

How I worked on these things, just getting a map and stuff.

'It's so cool, for once, to be the guy on the other side.

'Being able to watch.'

And all eyes to be on him,

to him to experience what it's like and what it's been like for me.

-I'm so excited!

-Cos he's nervous, I don't want to give him too much.

I've only driven the car five times!

We'll get him there. I'm sure we'll get him there.

LEWIS LAUGHS

-It's your old suit.

-You can't even buy him a new suit?

No, he's got a new suit. But it doesn't fit him.

It's a big day for the family, but the media are also out in force.

-What are these cameras in here for?

-No idea who they are.

Nick doesn't need it. These guys are in here, but anybody else...

There are a lot of cameras next to his car.

-Get them moved out, yes?

-They should be out behind the line, yes.

CAMERAS CLICK

JOURNALISTS CALL OUT

Nic will be competing against some of the brightest young hopes

in motorsport.

All have been racing for years.

This is Nic's first competitive race.

That's our on-board with Nic Hamilton.

Darren Wilson on the right. Nic was only two tenths off Darren Wilson

in qualifying and Darren's got a year's experience.

Dixon... He's having a go at Dixon! What a great move. Wow!

That's genetic, that is!

I don't mind if he comes last, because four months ago,

we'd never have imagined he'd be in a race car.

So it doesn't matter where he comes.

He's had hardly any testing, got no racing experience at all,

he's up against some tough guys, so massive pressure on him.

Plus cameras and all that. He's got a lot of talent.

With time, he'll get faster and faster.

Nic finishes 15th out of 17.

There is Nic Hamilton.

Tremendous performance by Nic.

For his first race weekend,

he's really acquitted himself well.

There's no sport in my family. What the hell are we doing in motorsport?

Now both of my sons are racing.

I find that strange, but there you go.

It's emotional, watching him,

to think my brother is 19 years old, he's all grown up.

He's fricking bigger and bulkier than me and he's now a superstar.

I nearly had a heart attack at the start.

Well done.

Being able to come home and watch myself on TV, it's like - that's me!

Years ago, I'd never even be thinking about doing anything like that.

Thank you very much. APPLAUSE

Well done. Well done. You done wonderful.

Up here is mainly where Hamilton Management Group is run.

I always told my dad not put spiral steps,

cos they're hard to walk up, but he did it anyway.

Ollie Tebbutt comes to all my races. He's also the PA.

Works for Hamilton Management Group.

Been friends eight, nine years, maybe? Go back a long way.

When he moved in the village,

he didn't have many friends who were interested in racing,

likewise for myself, so we got on like a house on fire.

Ollie Wickens is like a temp, cos he's at uni as well.

So when he's not at uni, he's doing my media,

my interviews and where I need to be at certain times.

We met online, actually -

on a racing community called Race Department.

It's basically where everyone is into their online gaming...

It's crazy, having people wanting my autograph

and the amount of support that I've had has been incredible.

-Lewis has got some competition now!

-I hope so!

It's like a massive thing for me, which I never thought I'd ever have.

I've even got one of my posters here, look...

One of my posters here - I never thought I'd ever be doing that,

you know?

But it's cool - people would like me to sign them

and they can put it on their walls, something like that.

I'm always like, "Are you sure you want to put it on the wall?!"

It's not really a cool thing!

I don't find myself that important to put on the wall,

but some people do it.

I just like making other people happy because they show me so much support.

This is like, the chill-out room, where we play pool or whatever.

Nic's life has been focused on Lewis.

The family's mission - to help Lewis achieve his dream.

These are all Lewis's. My favourite trophy is this one.

Which is the World Cup, which he won in Japan.

It was the closest race ever. We came out on top.

I was so happy at the end of it, I think... I think I actually cried!

I very rarely cry, but like...

A very proud moment at that time, so that's been my favourite since.

I think he has 250, something like that.

Something ridiculous. So, yeah.

Lewis's Formula 1 World Championship

was the culmination of a 14-year plan.

My brother is the best driver because he's fast.

And one day he's going to be in Formula 1.

Shanghai, April 2011.

Lewis's season is in full swing.

But he hasn't won a race for almost a year.

Lewis Hamilton, brilliantly wins the Chinese Grand Prix.

Lewis, that's a magnificent drive. Absolutely magnificent.

That was amazing, thank you so much!

TANNOY: '..His progress, from those early days,

'when he was in Formula BMW, all those years ago.

'Very, very good news. A great podium'

TANNOY ANNOUNCEMENTS ECHO

< MENS VOICES, INDISTINCT

WILD CHEERING

Today, Lewis has done a fantastic job -

I'm hoping Nic does a good job as well.

And it's champagne time.

Normally, the Hamilton family would be in China, with Lewis.

But today, Nic is the focus of their attention.

It's a complete dream come true,

I reckon - to be racing on the same weekend as my brother.

It's really cool - I've always wanted it, and so today we actually get to live it.

Cheers, Nic. Good luck.

-Thank you.

-Go for it, Nic!

SHOUTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Nic Hamilton comes home in 14th,

ahead of ex touring-car driver, Mark Proctor.

Nic must be over the moon - really should be pleased.

-I wonder if Lewis is watching it over in China?

-I'm sure he's very proud of his brother.

I'm braking and Mark caught me up.

The tyres started going off and I made mistakes.

I went off, Mark went past, then I got lunged

and my race was over then, really.

You are doing a superb job.

The learning curve is just...

Despite reassurances, Nic seems disappointed with the weekend.

Yeah, I know where I am - it's on your left.

Here it is.

The Lister Hospital.

My operation was done in this hospital, when I was four.

I just remember it as bad memories - caused me a lot of pain, discomfort.

Obviously, the actual operation itself was very successful.

He had an incredible operation where he had the tendon cut

on both the back of his ankles,

both the tendons behind his knees in both legs,

his groin on both legs.

He had both legs in plaster from toes to groin

and as soon as he woke up, he wanted to stand up.

He was the happiest kid ever - I couldn't believe it. Not once do I ever remember him complaining.

Me, I'd be whining like crazy. But he never, ever moaned.

That was it, really.

He stood up on these two plasters and from then on,

he got a little walking frame

and he would run behind this walking frame

in both his plasters, then he'd jump, sit on it and keep rolling.

He's always wanted to do what able-bodied people do.

We didn't really wrap him in cotton wool.

He's never wanted to be looked at as if he's disabled

or be treated as if he's disabled.

That's the main thing with Nic.

The third weekend takes Nic to Thruxton, the UK's fastest circuit.

It's Friday and practice day.

Everything was normal. The last time I saw about that track was

on a game and funnily enough, when I did that game, I won both races.

So I knew the track quite well!

So I did the whole session and everything was going fine -

I had no excursions, no mistakes.

And I remember looking in my mirror and seeing Tom Grice behind me

and I turned into the right-hander.

Your heart sinks - you just think, oh... What is the matter?

You go into blind panic, you don't know what to do.

Walking through, you could just see the car at the back

and it was...just horrible. Really horrible.

Everything was in slow motion -

I could see all the marshals behind the tyres.

I was thinking about them. I couldn't remember what happened in the air.

All I can remember is just landing.

My first thought was...

I've ruined my weekend. Straight away,

and it hasn't even started.

Um... And...

My dad's going to kill me!

I couldn't get out...

I couldn't get out because I was on my side.

For my legs, it's difficult.

We decided not to tell Linda that Nic had had an accident.

We didn't know what had happened.

Before we had the chance to do that, the media had reported it

and she was reading these reports that he's gone off to hospital.

Seeing the headline on the internet sort of really brought it home

when it said, "Nic Hamilton SURVIVES crash".

Now, that sort of does hit you quite hard.

It scared my mum so much.

My dad obviously was very...

When I called him, it seemed like he was...um...

It seemed like he was angry at the time.

My initial reaction sometimes is anger.

I don't know why,

I think anger because of the fear that you could have hurt yourself.

I know that he wasn't angry, he was more scared.

The fact that I had the biggest crash and my dad just wants me to be safe.

He didn't care about the car - the car can be fixed. I can't be fixed.

The car is a write-off.

OK, mate.

The TCR team works through the night to modify a spare car

in time for qualifying.

Each racing Clio cost £70,000,

but Nic benefits from having blue-chip sponsors.

The repair bill however, still falls to Anthony.

The team gets a new car on the track, but Nic is still shaken.

I always said my brother was an inspiration to me -

I think what was special about him was when...

The times we played football outside and the times we were

doing competitive things together and he would fall over constantly.

He'll just get back up and try again. He never, ever gave up.

That was, kind of...

You know the expression, "if you get knocked off the horse,

"you get back up on it again".

He's a true example of that.

First big crash you have as a racer is very telling,

because lots of people can go out and drive nice lines

and be relatively quick in a racing car, but can they handle competition

wheel-to-wheel, can they handle bouncing back from that big crash?

ANTHONY: It's a different set of emotions. With Lewis, it was completely different.

With Nic, 19-year-old lad, he's come this far in his life

and almost now risking his life in the car.

You know, I don't want to stop him doing it,

I am fearful of him... For him, doing it.

If he just takes it slowly, he'll be OK.

MAN: When we get back, guys - thank you very much.

Thanks, guys.

During qualifying, Nic comes off again, at the same corner.

More repairs and only four hours until the race.

The team told me to take different lines, which I have done.

It's just that one corner that's knocking my confidence

and I don't really know what to do.

-What I doing wrong?

-'I just didn't want him to do it.

'I didn't want him to race that weekend. He didn't know what he was doing wrong'

and that was the major problem for me.

If you don't know where you're going wrong, it could well happen again.

You know that if you do this, you might crash.

Well, try something different.

It's easy to say when you're not driving,

so I've got to be careful what I say,

but I don't want anything to happen to him, more than anything.

If he'd said, "Mum, I don't want to race," I'd have said, "Thank goodness. Let's go home."

I lift it, then I just...

You hit the kerb there and start bouncing.

The bend's coming up here.

I don't know what to do when that happens.

You're further out to the right - look how much space he has here.

You're further to the right - look at the signpost, where he is.

BUZZER

Way, way, way past it. You lift way before it.

The key to doing these high-speed corners is trying to do them

with as little turning as possible.

The less steering load you have, the more the car will be in balance

and the less you scrub the speed off your tyres and all that stuff.

I just told him how I do it. You've just got to go back out there.

Next time you get to that corner, do it exactly the same as you've done it in the past -

don't do it slower - if anything, go through it faster.

That will help you overcome that fear.

You need to keep the power on till past that post.

Dress quick, Nic.

-Do you understand, Nic?

-Yeah.

To everyone's relief, Nic finishes the race without further incident.

APPLAUSE

Another one. Oh, my God. Am I glad this weekend's over!

Two weeks later

and Nic has flown out to join Lewis at the Monaco Grand Prix.

It's the most glamorous event on the Formula 1 calendar.

He's hoping to put events at Thruxton behind him.

It's not totally out of my mind.

I'm now sort of worried about crashing the car.

Whereas before, I wasn't.

Hi, Nic!

Hey, Nic - they were checking you out!

What do you mean SOME girls? Most girls!

Most girls? Oh, I see!

I haven't found that special girl just yet!

If I was going to have a girlfriend,

they'd need to understand the situation.

The fact that no-one comes between me and my racing.

Um... So...

they need to take a back seat.

It's just crazy how we've all come from rock bottom.

My mum and dad have really worked hard. For Lewis to get where he was -

he wouldn't have done it without my dad

and my dad wouldn't have done it without him.

My dad is a very talented and unique person.

I was from a typical West Indian family, you know. So...

Dad worked on the London Underground and Mum worked in a factory.

My mum died when I was 16 and then kind of...you're on your own,

to a degree. You start realising just how tough life is.

You can't do the normal things all your friends are doing - going out, having fun.

Up through to the age of 30, I was still struggling.

Anthony is probably one of the hardest-working people I know.

Anthony would work 24/7 and he works for his family. That's it.

Anthony saw Lewis had potential from the age of seven.

What, was it gripping up?

I'm unable to do absolutely anything,

cos you're not telling me what's happening. I don't know what happening.

So we'll walk down here, dead silent, shall we?

Life's changed a lot for us, really, because I look back now

and think God, how on Earth did we manage to do what we did?

Because we both held full-time jobs.

Anthony did more than one job,

just to get the money in to get Lewis racing.

When we first started karting, it was all around the country,

whereas other people were turning up in their nice motor-homes,

all we had was a car and a trailer.

We had defined roles in the family.

My role really was to look after the family,

look after the house and do what I could to make sure that there was

food on the table, but also to try and make Linda's life easier,

so she could look after Nicholas.

Nic and I used to sit in the back of the trailer,

I remember in Scotland, with a Calor gas heater.

Just to keep warm in between the races.

For me, it was like a holiday every weekend.

You meet up with your friends and make certain friends

every weekend, then keep them all the way through the year.

Lewis was very successful in karts, so we were all very happy and very grateful.

He's not yet old enough to drive down the street,

but a 13-year-old schoolboy

has already been signed up by the Formula 1 team McLaren.

My ambition is to get to Formula 1, definitely.

I enjoy the speed, I like to be with all the big guys

and I like to be making lots of money!

BIRDSONG

This is a replica of the World Championship trophy.

Extremely valuable.

I'd like to think I'm still the same person and I am,

because I value the pound as much now as I did then.

And, um...

So nothing is to be wasted. Everything has a value.

We've got lots of trophies. Around the new house,

we're building a showroom for them as well.

So... Quite proud of that.

It's five years.

Who would've thought?

It does seem like yesterday.

I've got the memories of the last 20 years that I carry with me,

more than the hopes of the future, if you want.

Cos the future for me was all about the kids

and Lewis is off and successful and Nicolas is on his way.

Now that my dad has a bit more time...

and you know,

the stresses of karting have gone away, I feel like me and my dad's relationship has now grown.

Without a doubt,

my brother's relationship with our dad has suffered slightly.

Due to the time that he's been away with me. So I feel quite good

that he's able to build that now.

What Lewis sees in the back of his mind is that everything was done

for Lewis, so we were all there for Lewis

and Anthony was there for Lewis.

But me and Nic didn't see it like that.

We just saw it as that's what we do as a family.

To have one sibling in sport, I think it affects the whole family.

To keep the family together, you all have to do it.

I love both of my kids, I love my whole family,

but the thing is, life is twice as hard for Nic.

So he's got to experience love that's twice as hard -

and I think that's what makes him such a strong, independent person.

We're a family that...

We...don't show our emotion to each other straight away.

I don't need to tell you I love you - you should already know it,

know what I mean?

I don't need to tell you I'm proud of you, you should already know it.

That's how we live.

It's past the midway point of the season and everyone is looking

for some signs of progress and consistency in Nic's racing.

Croft in Darlington brings a new challenge -

rain is forecast the whole weekend.

It's a new car from obviously the one at Thruxton, cos that's written off.

Um, so we've put our red on it - my famous red -

so people know it's my car.

My advice to Nic has been, "Don't damage your car or yourself".

You can't just step into motor racing and think, "Now that I've got a helmet, I'm a race driver".

I wouldn't say the crash at Thruxton is a distant memory - it has had an effect on me a little bit.

Cos I don't want to go and crash the car and do more damage,

but at the end of the day, it's racing and if it happens, it happens.

I wanted to make sure that Nic didn't destroy his car,

his opportunity or that of anybody else's.

It's quite wet today.

Don't know how I'm feeling, to be honest.

-I'm just going to see how it goes.

-He knows what to do. Yeah.

You've got to leave them to it sometimes, haven't you?

I'm not TOO worried(!)

Actually, I AM too worried!

But I'm sure he'll be fine. I'm sure he'll be fine.

ENGINE REVS

This is Nic's first ever race in the wet.

Most of the year, it's run round at the back, Nic - and be careful.

During qualifying, Nic struggles to keep up with the other racers.

He comes in to see if he can find out what he's doing wrong.

OK, that's it.

SIREN BLARES

Within minutes of going back out, there's a problem.

Hi, Linda.

I don't know, I think it might be him that's caused the red flag.

I can't tell. No, we can't see him.

We've just finished qualifying and there's been a red flag.

I think Nic's gone off somewhere - we don't know where exactly.

We're just waiting to see where he is and see how the car is.

Doesn't look too bad.

It just looks like the bumper to me.

To be fair though, your dad said push like crazy.

The track wasn't there. No-one was going quicker.

I wanted to really bring you in...

The fastest times were in the first three laps.

-What happened?

-Um...

Going into Tower,

which is a right-hander, there's a bump,

under-braking.

I hit the bump, locked up - straight on, cos the grass is wet -

doesn't really help.

Found the wall.

But luckily I went in straight and it only damaged the front left,

so it should be all right, hopefully.

How bad is it?

I didn't want Nic's lack of racing experience to hurt him

or anybody else in the process.

It's easy to damage the car.

And I didn't want to be getting the bills every weekend.

Great start from Chris Swanwick. Good start too

from the poll, Matt Allison, and Luke Wright in third position.

28 car is out - that is Hamilton. Nic Hamilton, that's frustration.

Not good for Nic.

Engine trouble puts pay to the weekend.

Nic's racing is bringing him attention off the track, too.

A charity that supports people living with cerebral palsy

has invited him to talk to some kids about his experiences.

-How you doing, all right? Good to see you.

-Hi, Nic.

-How you doing, mate?

-Jamie. Nice to meet you.

-Nic Hamilton, how you doing?

What are the problems that you find you're having?

When I'm waiting at the bus stop,

sometimes...a bus driver won't let me on,

just because he doesn't want to put the ramp down,

or doesn't want to waste time putting the ramp down.

Sometimes they don't even open the door to speak to you,

they just wag their finger at you and that will be that.

You have to wait for the next bus.

Sometimes, when people treat you different, it gets really annoying.

-Definitely.

-You just want to get treated the same as everybody else.

But I think if you want to get treated the same as everyone else,

you have to show them.

I was in the wheelchair for five years and I used to sit in it

and I realised people would think I couldn't say anything.

But if you're being confident in talking to people,

they talk to you and realise you're a person.

-I always hate running.

-You always hate running?

What would make it easier for you? Do you do any running races at all?

I do, but...

-I can if I want, but most of the time I choose not to.

-Why?

It just tires me out really quickly and I choose to quit - like, stop.

I've had a lot of things where I could just give up,

but you should never give up,

because sometimes you'll give up and you'll regret giving up.

If there's a fence, for example

and I know I won't be able to get over the fence,

I don't care how stupid I look trying to get over the fence,

so long as I get over the fence.

-I'm not fussed. Yeah?

-How did you get on at school?

I went to a very good school. Everyone was very nice and polite,

but obviously you had certain people who decide to be different.

I got bullied when I was in a wheelchair,

just because I was an easy target.

I can remember one where I was in my wheelchair and these four guys

just decided to grab my wheelchair and pull me completely backwards.

Pull me backwards and just... leave me on the floor.

Then walk away, laughing.

Them experiences I've had has made me stronger as a person.

If they were looking at you now, they'd regret it, wouldn't they?

Because you're bigger and better - you're a racer and they're nothing.

-Starting with me!

-Look over here!

-Everybody smile.

Fabulous. Moving on swiftly...

'I really enjoyed it.'

Cheese!

The children that I spoke to really, really listened and...

No, sort of...

really opened my eyes, as well.

You've got to try something once before you can give up.

As I was saying, I don't like running,

but I might give it another chance.

Snetterton marks the three-quarters point of the season.

The weeks of racing are beginning to take their toll.

-This morning, my back's gone.

-Still a bit stiff at the bottom?

I don't know what it is. Feels like something's slipped.

Feels like I've got someone digging something in me all the time.

I've never had a day in my life where something hasn't hurt.

So, it's just a normal thing.

Concern about whether Nic has the physical and mental capacity

to be a racer is on everyone's minds.

I actually do know that he's in pain, but his dad probably doesn't,

cos he probably would never tell him.

He doesn't tell anyone.

I just know, because I've been through it with him.

As I've started racing,

my body has gone through a lot more different forces, things that

it's not used to, so my pelvis will come out or something

whilst I'm driving or racing

or I'll pop a joint in my back or something like that.

It's like someone's got their fist inside of you, constantly.

It's not like a sharp pain, it's just an ache.

Trouble is, Nic will never complain anyway, if he's in pain.

Last thing he wants to do is... He never wants to put upon others

and for sure he won't want to be sitting out this weekend.

He probably does need a bit of treatment, but we'll see.

I'm sure he'll pull it out of the bag.

TANNOY ANNOUNCEMENTS

There's a reason why we're going racing

and that's more than anything to give Nic his opportunity.

He deserves his chance like everybody else does.

But he understands that it isn't just an open pot of money.

ENGINES ROAR

If he's going to carry on racing next year,

he's got to get off his arse and go and renew the contracts

with his current sponsors, find some new sponsors...

But more than anything,

he's got to either get a job or go to university.

It isn't a case of knocking on Lewis's door saying,

"Big Brother, I know you've got lots of money, help me!"

There's none of that involved. It's literally having to work for every penny.

Nic has his best qualifying session to date

and starts middle of the grid.

If you look at where we are now compared to where we normally are,

we're doing a lot better.

We're having the best weekend we've ever had, I reckon.

Let's just hope the race goes well.

There is young Nic Hamilton.

We just regard him as one of the racers now.

He's just getting on with it. Getting more experience and getting used to the cut and thrust.

He's in regularly now, in more and more of a scrap.

He finishes a disappointing 13th, after a shunt with another car.

As recently as 2008,

when Lewis became Formula 1 World Champion, Nic was using wheelchair.

They were easy days.

Every day, life was pretty simple, just because...

the legs would never get used, so I'd never feel tired or whatever.

I'd be in a wheelchair all day.

Looking back, I'd say the wheelchair side of things was a big mistake.

When I started getting out of the wheelchair, I'd go to the toilet and come back

and my legs would be finished already.

I always said to Nic, there will be a point in your life,

probably a teenager or late teenager, when you will want to start walking.

I don't know why it all just changed. One day I turned up at school

and just said no, I'm not going to bother today.

My legs got stronger every day.

We were really looking to see what we could do to help Nic walk better.

We actually took him out to America.

They suggested doing... Well, a very major operation

which was to break both of Nic's legs and reset them

into a position where he would find it easier to walk.

Straight away I didn't want it.

Straight away, I didn't want it.

Because... It was like, I felt like it was so over the top, you know?

It's so over the top.

I basically sat there and thought, "There must be another way!"

This is very stressful for me, this!

Another way came in the form of physiotherapist, Alan Watson.

It's stressful for me cos I have to listen to him whingeing...!

He just likes putting me through pain!

With all the stress racing puts on Nic's body,

Alan works hard to keep him on the track.

Felt like I can't hold my balance there.

He also helps to increase the flexibility and strength

-of Nic's legs and is always looking for ways to improve Nic's walking.

-That's better.

Let me just see how the left foot...

Try that. That's another 2mm extra.

We actually made one ourselves, sort of like a bodge-job.

-Bodge-job to you!

-No, but it was, though, wasn't it?

THEY SPEAK OVER ONE ANOTHER

The other pair, we hacked them to bits then we stuck all bits and pieces on -

we got it right.

-This is the final... Well, hopefully. I think it is.

-So the left is the more...

But the difference it makes to the way Nic's aligned...

-That's better.

-How does it look?

-It looks really good.

Is the best it's ever looked.

Nic gets thrown backwards, which throws the centre of gravity backwards, so he feels unstable,

so he has to bend forward from the stomach, which stresses his back.

So we just put 6mm on the rear foot

which allows his foot to work in a normal motion.

It's really helping. You made some massive changes.

Well, not massive changes, but small changes, but massive improvement.

I'm not sure if I'm racing next year or not.

I really don't know if I am, for sure.

Of course I want to, but at the end of the day, it's not down to me.

If Nic can race and make a career at the same time, for me,

that's the best way forward.

This isn't a game, this is a serious business.

If you tell me you want to go motor racing to win, that's what I expect you to do.

I need to...show my family

and friends that I can actually drive the car and that I am improving.

If you want to go motor racing 50%, then fine.

We'll all put in 50%.

I feel like I'm running out of time.

My brother is coming up as well.

It's the penultimate race weekend of the season and the pressure is on.

Someone like Nic, is a story people are interested in

not just because of his brother,

but because he's trying his hand at doing something which is difficult.

It's got a disability and he's not letting that stand in his way.

Nic's a very popular man in the paddock.

He's worked really hard this year, delivered some good results.

Everyone knows him - not just Lewis's brother, because he's become a driver. He's doing very well.

I'll give you 110%, but you've got to give it the same.

He does that in his preparation and getting through the race.

What I found at Rockingham is that I think he lost his confidence.

He should be mid-pack by now, Nic.

He's showing signs of getting to the mid-pack,

but I'm sure he's struggling with some confidence on the brakes.

I think he was just frightened that his dad hadn't got the confidence in him to race any more

and he thought he maybe wouldn't be able to race next year.

It was all going through his mind.

Are you quite a competitive person?

Massively, mate, else I wouldn't be racing! Massively.

This is a very competitive championship.

To just be out there

and even doing half-respectable times is pretty good.

It's a high level of skill required, so he's done brilliantly.

I don't quite know where his thinking was

when he was approaching the first corner, but it wasn't at the 110% mark.

I had a really good start, and I got four places on the start,

or something, but then I was always the first to brake.

So I broke first and everyone drove round the outside of me.

It was more like the 90% mark and for me,

that means he let himself down.

And that's probably why he was a little bit frustrated.

Nic finishes second to last.

I did tell him not to worry too much about it

and said, "You need to go and prove yourself next time you're out".

The final race of the season. It's make-or-break time for Nic.

He needs to finish mid-pack

to have any chance of earning a drive for next year.

It's been a good year.

Ups and downs, but hopefully this weekend we can end up on a high.

He drove so well last week, but you can't make up three or four places

then give it back because you're not sure.

If you're not sure, you shouldn't be racing.

-His dad said, "you've got to try".

-We'll see what he does this weekend.

I think he's got a different mindset this weekend.

He's in a good place, in his mind.

I think he's going to try and go for it.

Nic qualifies in 13th place.

It's amazing, what he's done, what he's achieved.

I think he'll finish 10th, somewhere around there, this weekend.

That'll be a great season.

Second corner will be the one to look out for.

Everyone'll want to go in there as quick as possible,

so I'm just going to take it as it comes.

After the first corner, I'll be all right.

Just make sure he gets round the first lap.

Nic gets a dream start...

COMMENTATOR ON TANNOY

ENGINES WHINE

..and holds his nerve at the first corner.

He finishes ninth - his best result of the season.

Nic Hamilton - great performance from him this weekend.

He even beats his experienced teammates.

Nic likes to believe that there isn't a thing he can't do

and he's found something that he feels that he can do and achieve

and I'm extremely proud of him.

A lot of people are, too.

-Nic, how happy are you?

-I'm unbelievably over the moon!

-I felt like I won it! It was unbelievable.

-Unbelievable.

Really, really proud.

The...

Now I understand what it's like to...to feel good about yourself

and have a good race.

I was shouting in my helmet - I came across the line like I'd won it!

That's a smile and a half, dude. Well done, mate. Great job.

I think it was all the pressures and everything

and he just knew that he'd done a good job.

I couldn't have imagined it.

When you think when he jumped into the car on March 11 this year,

he'd never driven anything!

I remember when he crossed the line, I was so happy for him.

He proved he can do it,

he proved he could stick up there with the big boys.

There was question mark over whether Nic would race next year.

I think I said, "You need to get a job or go back to education".

It IS tough love. My dad will do everything... He's always done everything for me,

always done everything for the family.

Is it important to get a job? Yes. Is it important to get an education?

Yes.

Am I going to hold him to it?

No, absolutely not. I'm going to give him another year.

I've already said to him, "Hurry up, hurry up,

"so I can retire and you can look after me!"

Maybe I'll be HIS manager and he can have all the success

and I can just watch him.

I hope my dad's proud and I hope my family are proud of what I've done.

Because without them, I wouldn't have done it.

He actually now is a race driver,

rather than someone thinking that he's a race driver.

When we started, he was someone who THOUGHT he was a race driver.

Let's hope in the next couple of years,

you get to see some disabled racing drivers - some MORE disabled racing drivers.

Because we're already seeing disabled people

coming outside my tent in a wheelchair and stuff

and wanting to race. It's perfect.

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