Leading Australian race team, Triple Eight Race Engineering has announced it will contest Monochrome GT4 Australia in 2025, with Summer Rintoule and Jarrod Hughes to pilot the team's Mercedes AMG GT4 for the season.
Boasting a successful history in GT racing, this year's program will be Triple Eight's first foray into Monochrome GT4 Australia, which will be backed by JGI, as it looks to inspire build pathways for young rising stars.
While Hughes has some experience in the series, having put in some impressive performances co-driving alongside Mark Cottrell in the Mark Cotterell Master Jeweller Ginetta G56 GT4, 17-year-old Rintoule will be making her GT debut after stepping up from Excel and Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia development categories.
“I’m super excited to join the GT4 category this year and be a part of the Triple Eight family,” Rintoule revealed.
“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!”
As for Hughes, this program adds to a busy year for the Queenslander with a full Super2 campaign for Image Racing to run alongside a co-drive in Repco Supercars Championship endurance events.
“Teaming up with Summer and Triple Eight for the 2025 GT4 season in a Mercedes AMG is going to be wicked!” Hughes said.
“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!”
Team Manager Mark Dutton was looking forward to the year ahead and giving the opportunity to Rintoule.
“It’s really exciting to start and build our GT4 program, with the aim of trying to build pathways for young and upcoming drivers,” said Dutton.
“For 2025, we're using a two-pronged attack with both Super2 and GT4. We are particularly stoked to have JGI come onboard to support the program as our relationship over the past two years has grown stronger, and it shows with the support of our GT4 entry with Summer and Jarrod.”
“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.
“Jarrod is racing in a lot of different categories and cars this year, getting a lot of seat time allowing him to progress his career. That'll be a big help for Summer also, to have Jarrod to learn from.
“We will make sure that both Summer and Jarrod are supported by every driver at Triple Eight meaning they will have the full repertoire of skills to call upon. Whether that's Craig (Lowndes), Jamie (Whincup), Broc (Feeney) or Will (Brown), everyone will be there to help them along the way.
“With a well-run program and constant progression, the sky’s the limit.“
In addition to JGI, more partners will be announced alongside the livery ahead of the opening round at Phillip Island.
The opening round of the 2025 Monochrome GT4 Australia season will be at Phillip Island as part of the Shannons SpeedSeries on April 4-6.