British racing driver Nic Hamilton has today (19 March) been confirmed as the final driver on the upcoming Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship grid, completing Team HARD. Racing’s new-for-2021 Cupra Leon line-up.
Remaining with the team in which he achieved his best qualifying position and first points paying finish, in a Volkswagen CC in 2020, there’s great excitement for what a second consecutive campaign with the squad will bring, as Hamilton remains at the wheel of a ROKiT Phones and ABK Beer sponsored car this season.
The team has been working hard to build the brand-new quartet of Cupra Leons for the upcoming season, including Hamilton’s adapted machine, which allows him to compete with cerebral palsy. With the newest cars on the BTCC grid, the team will be aiming to move up the order in 2021.
“I am enormously proud to be back on the BTCC grid this year,” proclaimed 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 has made a huge decision to invest in the new car programme and I’m thankful for the 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.”
“It’s great that Nic has chosen to remain with the team for 2021,” added the squad’s Managing Director, Tony 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 add to our optimism about what we can achieve together this year in our all new Cupra Leons.
“We made the decision to replace our trusted Volkswagen CCs 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 [Goff], Glynn [Geddie] and Aron [Taylor-Smith]. We have a very strong line-up.”
“We are delighted to continue our support for Nic as he pursues his ambitions in BTCC,” said Jonathan Kendrick, Co-Founder & Chairman of the ROKiT Group of Companies. “He’s a tremendous inspiration for so many people and a great Ambassador for ROKiT and, in his new car, I’m confident that we’ll see his talent really shine through this year.”
With just 50 days remaining until Thruxton’s season opener, Hamilton and his new ROKiT stealth liveried Cupra will be heading out on track next week as his pre-season test programme gets underway.
