Richard and Sam Neary return to the Silver-Am class of the GT3 category in the 2023 Intelligent Money British GT Championship with their own team, Team ABBA Racing. The father and son pairing are entering their third full season racing together in the series aboard the most successful Mercedes-AMG chassis in history.
Team ABBA Racing made their series debut in 2016 racing a BMW Z4 GT3 before acquiring a then brand new Mercedes-AMG GT3. That car made its debut in 2017 as a round by round entry and has raced dual campaigns in the British GT Championship and the GT Cup ever since. In the last seven years it has racked up more race wins than any other Mercedes-AMG ever built.
Team ABBA Racing have repeatedly eschewed the Evo upgrade kit for the car, contesting that the car is quick enough to win as it is and that there is no need to spend the massive number of euros required to upgrade to the latest spec. Sam Neary arrived with a bang and has demonstrated pro-rivalling pace almost from the first race, proving the teams point by almost winning the Brands Hatch race last year before a fuel pump failure caused heartbreak.
“We love being the underdogs but are also hungry for silverware, be it in class or overall,” Neary the younger told the series website. “Last year, for several reasons, a few strong results got away from us. In terms of pace we definitely had the potential to beat Redline to the Silver-Am title, and they were also overall contenders don’t forget. So I don’t see why we can’t consistently trouble the top-six, score podiums and take a win when the opportunity presents itself.
“Richard and I are even more motivated to succeed in British GT this year. You can’t not be when you see the entry list SRO has assembled. Racing against the factory guys around somewhere like Oulton Park is the ultimate barometer.”
The challenge is certainly on. The currently announced entry list includes not less than 7 factory pro drivers which Sam Neary will have to continue to trouble if they hope to claim titles in 2023. Team ABBA Racing have consistently demonstrated their ability to take the fight to top flight teams using top flight equipment. The aging Mercedes-AMG has fight left in it yet.
The St Helens based team open their campaign at their home track, Oulton Park, on Easter Weekend.
