Royal London partners with Nicolas Hamilton to help level the playing field in motorsport

Published  23 September 2026
   2 min read
  • Partnership expands Royal London's Levelling the Playing Field programme from women's rugby into disability and neurodiversity in motorsport.
  • Nicolas Hamilton is the first, and only, disabled driver to compete in the British Touring Car Championship and races using adapted controls.
  • The collaboration will explore how Royal London can support Nicolas's ambition to create the first fully disabled and neurodiverse race team and improve accessibility and employment opportunities across motorsport. 

Royal London, the UK's largest customer owned life, pensions and investment company, today announces a new partnership with British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) racing driver Nicolas Hamilton, expanding its Levelling the Playing Field initiative into disability and neurodiversity in motorsport. 

Nicolas lives with cerebral palsy and made history in 2015 as the first disabled driver to compete in the BTCC. He competes directly against able-bodied drivers using adapted controls in his race car, helping to broaden perceptions of who can succeed in motorsport.

The partnership builds on Royal London's work to create positive, long-term change in sport. Through its role as Founding Partner of the first British & Irish Lions Women's rugby Team, Royal London has invested £3m in player and coach pathways across the four Home Unions to help level the playing field for women's rugby. Working with Nicolas takes this programme into a new arena, with a focus on greater visibility, exploring inclusivity and employment opportunities. 

Together, Royal London and Nicolas will raise awareness of disability and neurodiversity in motorsport and explore whether his ambition to establish the first fully disabled and neurodiverse race team can become a reality and encourage better accessibility across motorsport to create more inclusive pathways into the industry. 

Susie Logan, Group Chief Marketing Officer at Royal London, said: 

"Through Levelling the Playing Field, we back sporting firsts that can open doors for others and create meaningful, long-term change. Nicolas has already challenged perceptions by competing at the highest level of British Touring Car racing, and his ambition goes far beyond his own success. 

"By working together, we want to help increase visibility for disabled and neurodivergent talent, explore what is needed to create more inclusive pathways into motorsport, and support Nicolas's vision for a fully disabled and neurodiverse race team. We are proud to use our partnerships to help build a fairer and more inclusive future."

Nicolas Hamilton, BTCC racing driver, said: 

"Motorsport has given me independence, purpose and a platform to show that disability does not have to be a barrier. I am proud to work with Royal London because we share the same belief that creating opportunity requires more than visibility. It requires practical support and a commitment to lasting change. 

"My long-term ambition is to create the first fully disabled and neurodiverse race team and help make motorsport more accessible at every level. Royal London has already shown, through its work in women's rugby, that it is prepared to back a first and help turn an ambition into something real. I am excited about what we can achieve together."

Nicolas Hamilton

Image credit: Alexandra Heron

For further information please contact:

Nicki Parry, PR Manager

About Royal London

Royal London is the UK's largest customer-owned life, pensions, and investment company, and one of the top 30 mutuals globally*. With over 160 years of heritage and no external shareholders, we're able to take a long-term view, focusing on supporting better outcomes for our customers.

Today, Royal London looks after 8.4 million life and pension policies, with £212 billion of assets under management and over 5,000 colleagues**. In 2026, we shared £199 million of our profits with approximately 2.4 million eligible customers.

We invest in partnerships that reflect our values, including being the only Founding Partner of the first British & Irish Lions Women's Team, supporting women's and girls' rugby across grassroots and elite levels to help develop the next generation of players and coaches. All driven by our commitment to doing what's right for our customers. 

Royal London works for you.

Discover more at royallondon.com.

*Based on total 2024 premium income. International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation Global data, 2026.

**Figures quoted are as at 30 June 2026.

About Nicolas Hamilton

Nicolas Hamilton is a British racing driver who lives with cerebral palsy. He began racing professionally in 2011 and, in 2015, became the first disabled driver to compete in the British Touring Car Championship. He races using modified controls and has competed in the series against able-bodied drivers, scoring his first BTCC championship point in 2020 and achieving a career-best sixth-place finish at Donington Park in 2023. In 2026, he joined Team VERTU, driving the Hyundai i30 Fastback N. Nicolas uses his platform to advocate for disability inclusion and greater opportunity in motorsport. His long-term ambition is to establish the first fully disabled and neurodiverse race team and help improve accessibility across the sport. 

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