Triple Eight reveals latest venture, signs rising stars
Triple Eight signs Super2 driver, rising star to GT4 program
Summer Rintoule, Jarrod Hughes to team up in Triple Eight Mercedes
Triple Eight also returning to Super2, building Aussie Racing Car chassis
Triple Eight Race Engineering has continued its expansion beyond Supercars, announcing its entry into the Australian GT4 competition.
Triple Eight has revealed it will enter a Mercedes-AMG GT4 into Monochrome GT4 Australia series, with Summer Rintoule and Jarrod Hughes teaming up.
The GT3 program joins Triple Eight's return to Super2 in 2025, with the team also becoming the official engineering partner of the popular Aussie Racing Cars category last year.
Rintoule, 17, began her racing career in mid-2022 with the EFS Excel Series, before moving to the TGR Scholarship series for the last two rounds in 2023. Last year, she competed in all TGR 86 series across Australia and New Zealand.
Hughes, 19, claimed last year's Super2 Series Rookie of the Year honours after finishing fourth overall in the Supercars development series.
This year's Monochrome GT4 Australia series will be contested across six rounds, starting at Phillip Island on April 4-6. The Rintoule/Hughes car will carry JGI naming rights.
Mark Dutton, Triple Eight Team Manager, said: “It’s really exciting to start and build our GT4 program, with the aim of trying to build pathways for young and upcoming drivers. For 2025, we're using a two-pronged attack with both Super2 and GT4.
“We are really excited to have Summer stepping into to race the GT4 with Triple Eight. We have always been extremely passionate about women in motorsport, and giving Summer the support to excel is an evolution of that.
"We have had plenty of talented females do incredible things for us – but it is a proud moment for Triple Eight to have a female driver for the first time. Summer has been in and around the team for several months now, showing a real desire to learn – I have always said this is one of the most important things as a driver, you have to work at it.
“We will make sure that both Summer and Jarrod are supported from every driver at Triple Eight… whether that's Craig [Lowndes], Jamie [Whincup], Broc [Feeney]) or Will [Brown], everyone will be there to help them along the way.”
“I’m super excited to join the GT4 category this year and be a part of the Triple Eight family,” Rintoule said.
“I believe this is the best move for my development as a driver, and I can’t wait to hit the track and start the season with an awesome team and co-driver.
“It is going to be a great year full of learning opportunities, and I believe I have the best people surrounding me to maximise them."
Hughes added: “Teaming up with Summer and Triple Eight for the 2025 GT4 season in a Mercedes AMG is going to be wicked.
“JGI Group have been massive supporters of my journey, and I can’t wait to help Summer wherever I can on her own path in motorsport.
“The aim is to be a sponge this year with so many experienced and knowledgeable people around me in the Triple Eight stable, and I can’t wait to get underway."
Triple Eight will commence its Supercars and Super2 campaigns in Sydney on February 21-23. Tickets are on sale now.
