Richard and Sam Neary will contest their fourth Intelligent Money British GT Championship season in 2023 and the eighth for Team Abba Racing.
The Team’s much-loved Mercedes-AMG GT3 retains its first-generation specification with a brand-new livery this year. The team, although unable to achieve major success last season, had regular front running pace in 2022, taking their first pole position in the Donington finale. It once again has heightened expectations within the family-run team, who will be eyeing an overall British GT title alongside its Silver-Am class ambitions.
Pro driver Sam Neary has risen from GT3 novice in 2020 to battling with established factory drivers throughout last season. The 20-year-old (21 in April), silver driver has a busy season ahead. At the beginning of 2023 he was invited to join Motorsport UK’s Team UK programme and will also compete in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe with Grasser Racing. Richard Neary, one of the most experienced bronze drivers on the grid, has made significant progress since his British GT debut in 2016. Standout stints helped deliver those ‘almost wins’ for Team Abba Racing last year. Their combined potential could mean they are regular podium contenders in 2023.
Richard Neary has more than three decades racing experience. As well as the British GT Championship and GT Cup Championship (which the father/son duo won in 2021) he has competed in the Dunlop Endurance Championship, Vecta Challenge, Dutch Supercar Challenge, Thundersaloons, and the Creventic 24-hour series winning at Silverstone in 2016 in the Team Abba BMW M3 V8.
Sam Neary started racing at the age of 15 and took part in his first competitive race in the Ginetta Junior Winter Series. At 16 he started driving for Team Abba Racing in the BMW M3 and in less than 12 weeks earned his International C racing licence. In 2019 Sam was one of the youngest ever pole sitters. His first victory in a GT3 car was at the age of 17 in the Britcar Dunlop Endurance Championship at Snetterton. Last year Sam competed in the 2022 FIA Motorsport games where he secured a bronze medal with Ian Loggie for Team UK.
In 2021 Team Abba Racing secured the 500th overall Mercedes win since the inception of its AMG’s Customer Sports Programme.
The first round takes place at Oulton Park Easter weekend 8th and 10th April.