The bank holiday weekend (29th/30th August) brought individual as well as team success for Team ABBA Racing’s Richard and Sam Neary in the third round of Intelligent Money 2020 British GT Championship at Brands Hatch.
Some early overtaking by both drivers in the Team Abba Racing Mercedes AMG GT3 during the two-hour race saw Sam bring the car home in 7th place and third in the Pro/Am class.
The weekend further demonstrated 18-year old Sam Neary’s pace; he set the second fastest time in Free Practice 1 and the fastest time in sector one in Free Practice 2.
Not to be out done, Richard Neary set the fastest lap time of the AMs in qualifying and 6th overall - less than a tenth of a second behind pole position in a field dominated by Silver drivers.
Sam Neary, despite going a further second quicker in qualifying than free practice was blocked on a fast lap. There was once again a slither of a margin - five tenths - between six of the pro drivers.
Commenting on the weekend, Richard Neary said: “Brands Hatch is a great circuit and the team really enjoy racing here. I feel both Sam and I demonstrated great pace this weekend and we will be looking to build on this at Donington Park.
“It is rewarding to come away with another third place in the Pro-Am class and we will be working to improve on this in September.”
The next race will be at Donington Park on 19th and 20th September.
Sam is the iZone Motorsport UK AASE Young Driver of the Year. Last year, Sam who only started racing at the age 16, competed in Team Abba Racing’s BMW M3 GTR in the Britcar Dunlop Endurance Championship and the Creventic 24-hour series.
By June 2019 he was testing the Mercedes AMG GT3. He competed successfully in the Mercedes in the Britcar Dunlop Endurance Championship and GT Cup (taking several pole positions, several firsts and Sunoco Driver of the Day twice).
Thanks to Ian Cutting Photography for photos.
Website: www.teamabbaracing.com and www.samnearyracing.com