28th March 2023
Sam Neary is to compete in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS driving for Austrian team Grasser Racing.
The opening round of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup will take place at the world-famous Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in Italy. The announcement sees Sam Neary getting behind the wheel of Grasser Racing’s new Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2s in the team’s return to the top-class endurance series.
The number 58 car will be driven by an international trio at the five rounds of this year's GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup. Sam Neary (Great Britain), Ricky Capo (Australia) and Fabrizio Crestani (Italy) will fight for victories and podiums in the Silver Cup.
The team’s number 85 car includes Clemens Schmid (Austria), Glenn van Berlo (Netherlands) and Benjamin Hites (Chile).
Sam Neary said: "I’m really happy to start this new chapter of my racing career with GRT. Racing in Europe in a Lamborghini is a dream come true and I’m ready to make the most of the opportunity. I can’t thank Gottfried and everyone at Grasser Racing enough for putting their trust in me this season. There is a brand-new car to learn and new tracks to master. We have a lot of hard work in front of us but I’m really looking forward to it."
Gottfried Grasser, Team Principal of GRT said: "Ricky and Sam made a strong impression with the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 during our pre-season preparation. For both of them, the tests were their first kilometres in this car and we are confident that they will show a steep learning curve in the GTWC. It is the first season for both in this highly competitive championship, so it was important for us to round off the line-up with an experienced driver. Fabrizio looks back on a long motorsport career and has already celebrated successes in the Lamborghini. We have two promising driver pairings for the Silver Cup, from whom we hope to achieve a lot. The course has been set and we are looking forward to an exciting season."
At the age of 20, Neary has a wealth of experience in GT racing. He will again compete in the Intelligent Money British GT Championship alongside father Richard, where he has celebrated a victory, a pole position and several podiums. Sam Neary, who started racing at the age of 15, has risen from GT3 novice in 2020 to battling with established factory drivers throughout last season. At the beginning of 2023 he was invited to join Motorsport UK’s Team UK programme and is also a BRDC Rising Star.
Last year Sam competed in the 2022 FIA Motorsport games where he secured a bronze medal with Ian Loggie for Team UK.
The first round of GTWC Endurance Cup takes place at Monza 21st -23rd April 2023.