Triple Eight Field AMG GT4
Triple Eight Race Engineering has announced it will contest Monochrome GT4 Australia in 2025, with Summer Rintoule and Jarrod Hughes in a Mercedes AMG GT4.
This year’s programme 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.
Method Motorsport will return to Monochrome GT4 Australia in 2025 to defend its Silver Cup title.
Led by Chaz Mostert and Guy McEntyre, Method Motorsport certainly made a splash in its maiden season of competition starting at the Bathurst 12 Hour, before continuing this in Monochrome GT4 Australia where it secured the Silver and Pro-Am Cup (now Silver-Am this season) titles.
In 2025, it will be the same formula for Method Motorsport with the team running two McLaren Artura GT4s and led by its reigning Silver Cup winner Tom Hayman.
In one of the McLaren Artura GT4s, Hayman is joined by rising star Max Geoghegan, who last year won the Toyota GAZOO Racing Australia GR Cup and is currently contesting the Dunlop Super2 Series.
In the second McLaren Artura GT4 is another returning name in the form of Nathan Morcom, who contested the opening two rounds of Monochrome GT4 Australia in 2024 with Method Motorsport.
Morcom’s experience will be helpful for new co-driver Loclan Hennock as he navigates his way from karting to circuit racing following contesting selected production car events last year.
Rounding out Method Motorsport’s line-up is the previously announced entry of West Australian pair Chris Lillis and Nathan Callaghan in an Am Cup entered Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport ensuring just the drivers are new rather than the GT4 models the team will run.
Tom Hayman: “Can’t wait to be jumping back in the Method Motorsport McLaren this year, we had an amazing year in 2024 together,” Hayman said.
“This year I’m excited to be sharing car 25 with Max, he’s fast and has proven himself in a such a short amount of time, so I’m really looking forward to this year with him.
“The McLaren Artura GT4 was amazing to us last year and we all learnt so much across the first 12 months, so to be able to drive such an incredible brand is a privilege.”
Max Geoghegan: “I can’t wait to jump into the GT4 scene with Method Motorsport,” said Geoghegan.
“Both the team and the McLaren were very strong last year. To not only work with Tom as my co-driver, but Chaz and Sam (Scaffidi) will not only help me in Monochrome GT4 Australia, but will continue to develop myself as a driver both in and out of the car.
“The series is appearing to be quite stacked so I’m looking forward to Round 1 at Phillip Island in April.”
Loclan Hennock: “I’m super excited to jump into the McLaren with Method Motorsport backing me and having Chaz help me along the way,” said Hennock.
“Chaz has a lot of experience not only with the McLaren Artura GT4, but a whole bunch of different cars, so I’m super thrilled to use some of his knowledge to not only benefit on the track but off.
“I’m also excited to work with Nathan as my co-driver, who also has plenty of knowledge and experience to learn from.
“The championship is looking as large and competitive as ever. with Method having so much success last year I know I’m in the best hands possible to give this season a red hot crack.”
Nathan Morcom: “I’m stoked to be teaming up with Method Motorsport again as this year it will be for a full season, to be a contender in the ever-growing Monochrome GT4 Australia,” said Morcom.
“I haven’t worked with Loclan before, but I’m looking forward to pushing him and speeding up his development in motor racing through my experience. With a leader like Chaz’s and having his experience, I’m sure we will be fighting for the podiums before we know it.
“I’m super excited and pumped for Round 1 at Phillip Island.”
Camaro to Porsche Switch For Chris Lillis
Australian Production Cars competitor Chris Lillis joins Monochrome GT4 Australia for the 2025 season with the West Australian to make the switch from American muscle to German finesse for the series.
A class winner in the Australian Production Car Series, Lillis will swap the Jack Motorsport Chevrolet Camaro for a full-Monochrome GT4 Australia campaign in the latest Porsche 718 Cayman RS CS.
Although the aim was to continue with Chevrolet into Monochrome GT4 Australia, Lillis chose the Porsche instead due to the lack of an eligible model after the Camaro’s homologation expired at the end of 2023.
Lillis will be joined by regular co-driver and fellow West Australian Nathan Callaghan for the season as the duo target the Am Cup title in an attack spearheaded by multi-title winning squad Method Motorsport.
The pair recently sampled the Porsche at Carco.com.au Raceway in a successful test ahead of its debut at Phillip Island.
Method Motorsport enjoyed immense success during the inaugural Monochrome GT4 Australia season in 2024 by securing the Silver and Pro-Am Cup titles – the latter of which was won by Lachlan Mineeff and Shane Smollen in the same model Porsche to be shared by the West Australian duo in2025.
“The reason we went down the Porsche route is it just suits us,” said Lillis.
“In Europe, Porsche is going well and Shane Smollen locally has been very successful with it.
“We knew we wanted to put the car with a team and we chatted with Porsche Motorsport Australia about the support they offer. Being able to get parts and support really made it the best decision to go with Porsche.
“If Chevrolet made a GT4 car, we would have pushed to do that. We did have talks with General Motors about a GT4 and it was said if there was a GT4 program we’d be the pick for that. We then considered running a Camaro GT4 and we saw a few in the US, but then GM isn’t pursuing the homologation from last year.
“The tie-up with Method Motorsport comes from our backing through Mobil 1 and Statewide Oil, which also sponsor Walkinshaw Andretti United. I’ve bumped into Chaz [Mostert] at various Statewide Oil events where we’ve both been.
“When we’ve run our own team for so long, it’s important to join an operation that knows what it’s doing. We got talking to Chaz and Aaron [Reed, team manager], who I’ve known from Production Cars, it was a no brainer.”
“Nathan and I are good mates. We’ve got our businesses within 10 minutes of each other in Mandurah. It’s hard to find someone to drive with that has no ego and is all about looking after the car, so Nathan brings that. We also sit in the same position, we talk the same language and it’s a hobby first, so we want to enjoy ourselves.
“GT4 was attractive to us as although the purchase of the car is dearer, the longevity and maintenance schedule is more economical. Another attraction was the competition and how big the Am Cup is going to be this season.
“Our aim is to repeat what Method Motorsport did last year and win the trophy they didn’t get. Every year we’ve entered Production Cars, we’ve won our class, but in the same token we’re not naive to the competition in Am Cup. We’ll also integrate some of our production car crew to help out on race weekends.
“We have tested the Porsche at Carco.com.au Raceway and felt like cheating because we were missing a pedal!
“Coming from what we’re used to, we feel it gives us an advantage because the Porsche is a lot more drover friendly. We’re also surprised how the Cayman relates to the sim, which we’ve never had and being in Western Australia it’s hard to test, so this will come in handy.”
Mustang Family Affair
Monochrome GT4 Australia will welcome a new family entry to the series in 2025 with Adam, Jed and Jack Wallis to contest the 2025 season.
Backed by the support of Warrin Mining and Volvo Construction Dealers, the South Australian family will be behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang GT4 purchased from Miedecke Motor Group – joining the ever-growing list of Mustang drivers in the series.
The trio’s entry will be led by 16-year-old Jack Wallis, who enters the season off the back of a successful 18-month stint in South Australia’s competitive Hyundai Excel Series and finished seventh on the standings in 2024.
Both Jack’s father Adam and uncle Jed will be sharing driving duties throughout the year – with Adam having spent the majority of his racing career in the V8 Touring Car Championship, while Jed has plied his trade in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia throughout the years.
With the team’s overarching goal centred around giving Jack a heap of exposure and experience as he looks to build on his career – this year’s campaign will likely provide a pathway for the teenager to one day compete in the GT World Challenge Australia powered by AWS.
April’s season opener in Phillip Island won’t be the first time the trio have driven together after they have already steered a BMW M1 during a four-hour endurance race at The Bend, while they will also run in the Bathurst 6 Hour together shortly after the first round.
“It’s unbelievable to think that I’ll be racing at a national level in Monochrome GT4 Australia,” said Jack Wallis.
“I’m most excited about the challenge of stepping into a more powerful and capable car, competing at some of the best tracks in Australia, and racing against top-level drivers.
“It’s definitely a big step up for me but I feel ready for the challenge. I’ve been preparing by working on my race craft, fitness, and sim training to adjust to the speed and dynamics of GT4 cars. Having experienced mentors around me will also help make the transition smoother.
“My main goal is to gain as much experience as possible, develop my race pace and consistency, and establish myself as a competitive driver in the GT4 field. I also want to learn from every race I compete in and build a strong foundation for future opportunities in motorsport.
“It’s also an awesome opportunity to share this journey with my family. Having their support, experience, and knowledge will be a huge advantage, and it makes the whole experience even more special.
“GT4 Australia is the perfect stepping stone towards higher-level GT racing. The experience I gain here will be invaluable for my development as a driver.”
Adam Wallis: “As a family, we are extremely excited to be able to race together in Monochrome GT4 Australia behind the wheel of a shiny new Mustang,” said Adam.
“For us, this is mostly an opportunity of giving my Jack a chance of being noticed – we have invested a lot of time and money into his racing program, so I am hopeful it will have a positive effect on his journey.
“With that said, I am only 51-years-old so I have plenty left in me, so I am looking forward to sharing with Jack and seeing what we can do together.
“Obviously developing Jack as a driver is one of our main goals but we also want to have a good time and I know we will – especially in the Mustang.
“The car has a fair bit of tech, so I have no doubt it will be good. For me, the series is a really good platform to eventually drive a GT3 for young fellas, which is what made it so attractive to us.
“I want to give a shout out to the Miedecke family, who have been fantastic in the support and assistance they have provided. Ford has also been really good with the car design, and I am really looking forward to the year.”
Randall Racing BMWs Return
Following an impressive maiden season culminating in the Am Class title, Randall Racing will return in 2025 with its pair of BMWs for another tilt in Monochrome GT4 Australia silverware.
The team will once again field a pair of BMW M4 GT4 G82s in the Am Cup this year with Jacob Lawrence to pilot one of the entries solo, while Peter Lawrence will once again team up with Jamie Augustine.
The team proved to be one of the most professionally presented outfits in the Monochrome GT4 Australia paddock both on and off the track, as Jacob eventually scored the Am Cup title.
Partnering with John Bowe for most of the season, who missed the round at Shell V-Power Motorsport Park, Jacob enjoyed plenty of victories during the year, including both races at The Bend, Queensland Raceway, Sydney Motorsport Park and Bathurst to seal the Am Cup crown with one round to spare.
Due to this success, Bowe was second in the title race, leaving teammates Peter and Augustine to round out the podium in a Randall Racing lockout.
Randall Racing is expected to expand on its entry line-up for the season, with announcements to be made in due course.
Jacob Lawrence: “The excitement around GT4 this season really does feel next level so I can’t wait to get back into it,” said Jacob.
“With new teams and new drivers, the whole field is growing and evolving and the competition is going to be fierce, so I’m sure it’s going to make for some thrilling races.
“My main focus in 2025 is to give myself the best chance for success again, and as the competition in AM is going to be incredibly tough this year, we have been training hard during the break.
“For me, we’ve got a solid team around us this season, so to maximise results at each round, we need top be consistent and take it one race at a time.
“Driving alongside John Bowe last season was a humbling experience, and the insights he provide both for the team and my personal growth were invaluable. JB encouraged me to take on the challenge by myself this year, believing the experience would be key to my development, so I’m looking forward to the challenge of competing solo.”
Peter Lawrence: “I’m really excited to return to GT4 this year. Last season was my first year ever competing in car racing, and it was a big learning curve throwing myself well and truly into the deep end,” said Peter.
“I’m looking forward to building on the skills I gained and continuing to grow as a driver. It’s all about taking what I’ve learned and pushing myself further this season.
“Last year was so much fun, especially competing alongside my son. The time we spent together on this journey is something I’ll always look back on as one of the best memories.
“Jamie has been a vital part of the team both on and off the track. He’s incredibly dedicated and has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to keep everything organised and ensure all electronics are running flawlessly.
“He’s invaluable as a data engineer and helps me analyse the data and identify key areas for improvement. Jamie is also a talented driver and really clicked with the car by the end of season, so renewing our partnership this year was an easy decision.
“We’ve made a significant investment in our racing program, and we’re fully committed to this journey. We plan on being around for a long time in this sport.”
