Born with Cerebral Palsy, Nicolas Hamilton is breaking stereotypes by racing in the highest level of the British Touring Car Championship. He has overcome adversity to prove to the world that a disability does not define you, facing uphill challenges head on to compete with able bodied drivers. As the first disabled person to compete in the BTCC, Nicolas is a role model to future drivers, proving that physical limitations do not dictate your future.
When Nicolas was told that he would spend his life in a wheelchair, unable to live unaided, he took a stand - literally. After years of gruelling training, he is now able to not only walk unaided but race against able bodied drivers. Armed with his "can do" attitude, he tours the speaking circuit, sharing his story with captivated audiences. His speeches are structured by insightful topics, like Breaking Down Barriers and Learning From Failure, offering audiences actionable strategies as well as an inspiring story. For corporate audiences, Nicolas helps them to set and achieve realistic goals, tailored to his specific guests' industry.
From the moment Nicolas could understand his condition, he was determined to prove his doctors wrong. Following years of hard work, he was offered a position in the Renault Clio Cup series, an incredibly prestigious race in British motorsports. A self-described "trial by fire", the challenge showcased Nicolas' resilience and perseverance, and led a thriving motorsports career. In 2011, he featured in a BBC documentary that reached 2.1 million viewers in a single night. The ripple effect was instantaneous, and helped audiences to understand Nicolas' condition.
As a speaker, Nicolas represents the millions of disabled people in the UK who don't have a voice. He is using his passion for sport to help young people embrace their potential, and push themselves to their limits, most recently through his debut book 'Now That I have Your Attention: 7 Lessons in Leading a Life Bigger Than They Expect'. In 2019, Nicolas raced in the British Touring Car Championship, proving once again that only you can define your limits. For Nicolas, once he decided that he had no limits, he hasn't looked back since.
We recently sat down for an exclusive interview with Nicolas Hamilton! Check it out over on our YouTube channel, and hear how Nicolas' disabled driving academy has transformed opportunities for the community.
Books
Now That I have Your Attention: 7 Lessons in Leading a Life Bigger Than They Expect
Now That I have Your Attention: 7 Lessons in Leading a Life Bigger Than They Expect
How to hire Nicolas Hamilton
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Nicolas Hamilton for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
Nicolas Hamilton's Official Speaker Topics are listed below:
- Drive & Determination
- Diversity & Inclusion
- Disabilty Awareness
- Breaking Down Barriers
- Learning From Failure
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
Feedback From In-Person Events:
"Everything went great with Nic – he was superb and everyone who attended the event commented on how fantastic and inspiring he was! He was a perfect guest speaker for our conference, and he was a pleasure to work with!" - Kellie, Executive Assistant, Active Care Group
"The event with Nic Hamilton last week went really well. He is a fantastic speaker, so natural and engaging. We had about 40 people in the room with over 100 online, joining virtually from around the world. The audience found his story eye-opening and really powerful. They particularly resonated with doing the best you can with the cards you've been dealt with in life, perseverance, resilience and to keep knowing down doors until others really see you and believing in and advocating for yourself – if you don't who will? The live stream was full of positive posts about what Nic was saying and also there were lots of messages of support for Nic, to keep doing what he is doing, and to hope he is proud of what he has achieved and will go on to achieve in the future." - Dentons
"Nic was amazing, we did it interview style and he was very engaging. Our team was moved and I had a lot of great feedback. Please pass on our thanks to Nic, he really did leave a great impact on our sales conference, exactly what we wanted him to do, to help foster our growth mindset. Thank you for your help organising it all." - Rose-Anna, Marketing Graduate, McCormick
Feedback From Virtual Events & Webinars:
"Just wanted to say thanks for arranging everything with Nic and please pass across my thanks to him, we loved the talk and feedback has been really positive. There was lots of great questions and engagement from the new joiners." - Ella, Resourcing Adviser, Grant Thornton
We invited Nic Hamilton to speak at our virtual International Men’s Day celebration at Nomad Foods; an event run across 13 countries via a virtual platform for over 250 people. Nic spoke about his personal experience of having to fall in order to learn to grow, his experience about using mental strength to build physical capabilities and the power of self-belief. He was relatable on so many levels – answering the Q&A with heart and soul - and left everyone with some thoughts about how to challenge themselves in an authentic way, and to build a culture of no-judgement. I cannot recommend him enough”. – Rachel, Group Revenue Director, Nomad Foods
"You were absolutely incredible! The team loved hearing your story and were in awe of your resilience, strength, grit and humility. You’ve set an extremely high bar for the rest of the event and future speakers. The team shared how hearing your story and answers to their questions was not only inspiring, it benefited them hugely both professionally and personally. If people weren’t so already, you’ve certainly gained a lot more fans!" - Sammie, GSK
"Just wanted to say a huge thank you on behalf of myself and everyone at Shell Energy UK. Your discussion prompted some truly great debate within the business, and indeed we found your life-story authentic, inspiring, and at times humbling. Well done for bringing your story to life in the most amazingly constructive and positive way. You clearly faced and continue to face challenges, yet you seem to have risen above them all, becoming an ambassador for change and awareness in what I can only imagine is the most challenging and competitive sporting environment. We look forward to engaging with you again, and until then we wish you every success in your career and in your quest to raise awareness of diversity, inclusion and belonging. You are an inspiration, and a role model for all of us." - Paul, Shell Energy
- 2024 - Published 'Now That I Have Your Attention: 7 Lessons in Leading a Life Bigger Than They Expect'
- 2020 - Fourth Team HARD driver in a Volkswagen CC
- 2019 - Full-time driver with Motorbase Performance
- 2016 - Member of Channel 4's Formula One presentation team
- 2013 - Competed in the European Touring Car Cup, driving a SEAT León Supercopa for Baporo Motorsport
- 2011 - Made his racing debut in the Renault Clio Cup for Total Control Racing
