Hughes adds T8 GT4 drive to 2025

Young-gun racer Jarrod Hughes has a big 2025 ahead of him, with the in-demand driver having just added a stint with Triple Eight Race Engineering in the GT4 Australia series, partnering up alongside fellow teenager Summer Rintoule.

Hughes will join fellow youngster -17-year old Rintoule – in the Mercedes AMG GT4 machines after she spent 2024 taking on TGR 86 series across Australia and New Zealand in 2024, as she also creates her own slice of history by becoming the teams first female driver.

The team will be operated with Mark Dutton as Team Manager, with the opening round coming at Phillip Island on April 4-6.

For 19-year old Hughes, he completes a big few years by realising his Supercars dream with Erebus this season, having already been named to co-drive at the Bend Enduro and the Bathurst 1000.

The former TGR 86 Kaizen Award winner and 2024 Super2 rookie of the year has a work ethic, talent, and attitude beyond his teenage years, and is looking forward to being a “sponge” in the T8 garage, but assisting his teammate forge her own path.

“Teaming up with Summer and Triple Eight for the 2025 GT4 season in a Mercedes AMG is going to be wicked!” Hughes exclaimed.

“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!”

Likewise for Rintoule, she’s chomping at the bit to get involved in the GT4 machinery and to further her own path under the tutelage of the T8 family.

“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!”

Dutton is also excited to be a part of a talent building program where the two young drivers will get the full treatment from one of the country’s most dominant race teams.

“It’s really exciting to start and build our GT4 program, with the aim of trying to build pathways for young and upcoming drivers,” he began. 

“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’ve 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.”

GT4 AUSTRALIA 2025 CALENDAR

Round 1, April 4-6: Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit
Round 2, May 2-4: Sydney Motorsport Park
Round 3, May 30 – June 1: Queensland Raceway
Round 4, July 25-27: Sandown Raceway
Round 5, September 5-7: The Bend (Shell V-Power Motorsport Park)
Round 6, October 31-November 2: Hampton Downs (New Zealand)

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