Team Abba Racing added another GT Cup Championship victory at Brands Hatch GP circuit this weekend (1st May) in the latest rounds of the season for the father and son duo of Richard and Sam Neary.
Following a bumper grid at Donington Park in April, it was a 45-car entry list that graced the Brands Hatch GP venue for rounds five and six of the GT Cup Championship.
Saturday morning qualifying was broken into two 15 minutes sessions to accommodate the extensive grid with three groups permitted to run in each. Team Abba Racing’s Sam Neary, one of the BRDC’s newly announced Rising Stars, placed the car in pole position with a strong time, good enough to beat their main rivals WPI Motorsport by over a second at the flag.
A miscalculation of the pit window and subsequent puncture cost Team Abba the lead and a win although Sam Neary’s speed continued to dominate taking fastest lap in the first race.
Race two was back to business for Abba Racing with the team taking a dominant victory in the second 50-minute contest. Richard Neary delivered a smooth overtake on Balon's Barwell Lamborghini and son Sam Neary, who again took fastest lap in the race, brought the AMG GT3 Mercedes came home almost 30s clear of Balon.
Commenting on the race win, Richard Neary said: "Adam and I have raced each other for a few years now and we had a good ding-dong out there today, it was cool. The great thing about racing someone like Adam is that we’re both honest with each other, so you have the opportunity to race without knocking each other off the track.
“I think Sam and I had good pace today, we both love this circuit. This is actually my favourite and my worst track at the same time in that I love the GP track but hate the Indy!”
The next GT Cup Championship meeting takes place at Snetterton's 300 circuit over the weekend of 5/6 June 2021 however Team Abba Racing will be back at Brands Hatch later this month in the Intelligent Money British GT Championship which starts 22nd/23rd May.
Last year Sam proved a revelation during his maiden British GT campaign and his ability in wet and changeable conditions was comparable with far more experienced factory drivers, while his pace in the dry also took a notable step forward as the season progressed.
This year Sam was selected to join the Motorsport UK Academy’s Team UK Futures programme, the governing body’s talent development pathway that equips the UK’s most promising young drivers with the knowledge, skills and attitude needed to maximise their performance https://www.motorsportuk.org/news/motorsport-uk-academy-selections-2021/
In the last week, nineteen-year-old Sam has joined the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) as a Rising Star. The BRDC Rising Stars are aged under 24 and viewed as the `future of the club’, taking their motor racing seriously and aiming for a professional career within the sport.
Commenting on the prestigious appointment Sam Neary said: “This is a huge honour, and I am very pleased to know that my achievements to date having been recognised by such an influential organisation; I am really looking forward to representing the BRDC.”
More information about Sam Neary is available at www.samnearyracing.com