Vertu Reunites Family Inspired To Launch Charity With Racing Star Nic Hamilton
Award-winning automotive retailer Vertu has helped reunite a motorsport fan with one of his racing heroes after organising a special meeting with British Touring Car Championship racer Nicolas Hamilton.
James Connaughton from Middlesbrough lives with cerebral palsy, the same condition that Nicolas Hamilton has overcome to forge a successful racing career.
Back in 2015, James and his family first met Nicolas at Croft circuit near Darlington when he was making his BTCC debut, with that meeting being the inspiration for James’ parents Paul and Julie to set up a charity dedicated to supporting people with special needs.
JPC Community Hub CIC – which now operates as a Community Interest Company - works to support individuals living with special and complex needs, promoting inclusivity and helping people to live their lives as independently as possible.
JPC Specialist Motorsports was also established by Paul, who spent much of his career working in the automotive industry, to host events that raise awareness of the CIC and generate additional funds to support its work.
After being invited to attend the annual Smiles for Miles event at Hardwick Hall earlier this year, Vertu’s BMW dealerships in Sunderland, Teesside and Durham joined forces to provide tickets for James to attend the recent BTCC meeting at Croft and enjoy a special reunion with Nicolas, who now competes as part of the Team VERTU line-up.
James, Paul and Julie were able to spend time with Nicolas prior to him hitting the track for the latest three rounds of the season, where he scored a best result of 16th as he continued his challenge for a top-three finish in the Jack Sears Trophy standings.
Paul Connaughton said: "Meeting Nic back in 2015 was a hugely special moment that not only had a positive impact on our family, but also acted as the inspiration for us to create the charity to support both James and other young people in a similar position.
“Nic is a true role model for people living with disabilities and continues to show that anything is possible, particularly when you consider that he was told he would never walk as a child.
“A huge thank you to Vertu for providing us with the opportunity to meet up again at Croft to share with Nic what a huge impact he has had since that first meeting over ten years ago, with the Community Interest Company he inspired having now helped countless youngsters from across the North East.”
Jeff Aynsley, Head of Business at Vertu BMW Sunderland, said: “We have worked alongside JPC a number of times through the years, and were delighted to support Paul at Smiles for Miles earlier in the year. When we heard the story of how that first meeting with Nic has been the inspiration for setting JPC up, we were happy to arrange a reunion.
“Nic is a fantastic role model for people living with disabilities through his determination to achieve his dream of becoming a racing driver, and we’re proud to have been able to bring everyone together to share the story of how he has inspired the creation of a Community Interest Company that has benefitted people from the region.”