Nicolas Hamilton, 19, brother of Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, who has cerebral palsy, has completed a 10-day driving challenge in the Swiss Alps. Nicolas, of Tewin, Hertfordshire, took part in the challenge, run by the Disabled Motoring UK charity, which supports disabled drivers, passengers and blue badge holders.
The route took the team from London through France and the Swiss Alps, with Nicolas travelling on the Argson mobility trike used by Disabled Motoring UK founder Danny Denley on the route in 1947. The drivers were driving the route on the anniversary of Denley’s death in 2010. He had made the journey himself after being paralysed from the waist down by polio.
The team also completing the challenge with Nicolas included paralympian Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and wheelchair basketball player and children’s television presenter Ade Adepitan. The challenge involved climbs of around 1,900ft, as well battling constant drizzle, which affected the brakes, electrics and clutch of the vehicles.
Nicolas is now in training for the Renault Clio Cup, and wants to show that people can overcome their difficulties, whatever the challenges facing them. The team completing the Alps Challenge were invited to a reception at the Houses of Parliament attended by the minister for disabled people Maria Miller, as well as other MPs.