New look for Nearys ahead of BGT season together

It just wouldn’t be British GT without Abba Racing plus Richard and Sam Neary who are returning for a sixth season together in 2025.

However, there are some minor changes to the established father/son partnership, which first raced its Mercedes-AMG in 2020.

The entry is moving to Pro-Am following Sam’s FIA re-grading over the winter. As a gold driver he is now unable to contest British GT’s Silver-Am class, as he had since 2021.

The team’s trusty Mercedes-AMG GT3 also features a revised livery. Abba used various combinations of black and green from its championship debut in 2015 through until last year, but the latter has been replaced with silver elements that signal a significant departure from its traditional design.

Runners-up in Silver-Am class last year, the Nearys also finished a creditable eighth in the overall standings – and just 12 points behind the fifth place crew – thanks to three outright podiums. That matched their best return over a season since 2021 when they scored half-a-point more and recorded their only British GT victory to date.

“Silver-Am gave us regular class podium opportunities but we’ve always had loftier ambitions than that,” said Richard. “I think it’s remarkable that a small, family-run team can have the sort of success that we’ve enjoyed at this level. Our aim has always been to fight with the bigger, multi-car teams and that won’t change this year now we’re in Pro-Am. I take a lot of pride in the fact that Sam has been upgraded to gold thanks to his performances with Abba.”

Sam added: “We weren’t at our best in 2022 and ’23 so it was nice to remind a few people of what we could do last year. As a combination, we undoubtedly have the potential to challenge the factory-supported crews, and that’s something we’re hoping to do on a more consistent basis this year. Top five in the final championship standings would represent a massive achievement.”

The seven-event, nine-race season begins at Donington Park (April 5/6).