The grid for the 2021 British Touring Car Championship has been completed, with Nic Hamilton completing Team HARD’s driver line-up in a new-for-2021 CUPRA Leon.
Hamilton, 28, joined Team HARD for the 2020 season, where he raced one of the team’s Volkswagen CC cars to 28th in the drivers’ championship.
He will remain with the team for 2021 – the first time he has stayed with the same outfit for more than one season – as the team runs its all-new CUPRA Leon touring car.
Hamilton will race a car which is specially adapted to allow him to compete, despite having cerebral palsy.
“I am enormously proud to be back on the BTCC grid this year,” said Hamilton. “A lot of hard work and physical conditioning ensures I can participate in the sport and I am grateful to ROKiT Phones, ABK Beer and my other partners for their continued support and belief in me.
“Having accomplished some great personal results last year, in what was a difficult car to drive, I cannot wait to get behind the wheel of our new CUPRA Leon and start a new chapter with Team HARD.
“Team HARD have made a huge decision to invest in the new car programme and I’m thankful for their decision to welcome me into their fold again.
“I really believe we can achieve some great results and memorable moments together this season. There’s a lot to look forward to.”
Team HARD Managing Director Tony Gilham said that the signing of Hamilton for a second season, alongside Jack Goff, Árón Taylor-Smith and Glynn Geddie, had kept morale high at the team.
“It’s great that Nic has chosen to remain with the team for the 2021 season,” said Gilham. “He was a fantastic asset last season and his determination was rewarded with this best qualifying position and first BTCC points finish at Brands Hatch.
“These results only act as optimism about what we can achieve together this year in our all new CUPRA Leon.
“We made the decision to replace our trusted Volkswagen CC midway through the season in 2020 in favour of the then to be released CUPRA Leon.
“The engineers have done a great job to design the car from the ground up and have been working in cohesion with the mechanics who have built the cars.
“Team morale is high and the signing of Nic has only raised their spirits higher. Nic has a wealth of BTCC experience and his specially adapted car is well into the build process.
“I look forward to seeing Nic and the car’s development as he continues to work alongside Jack, Glynn and Árón. We have a very strong line-up.”
Hamilton will give the car a shakedown run at Brands Hatch on 23 March 2021.
