Rintoule becomes first woman to win outright in GT4<\/a><\/p>\nThe move to Method Motorsport was made out of necessity, as Triple Eight ceased its GT program to focus on becoming the Ford homologation outfit in Supercars.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs much as we loved being with Triple Eight, they just really wanted to focus on their Supercars team this year,\u201d Rintoule noted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI definitely still miss my original team, they were all super stoked to see that we finally got on that top step.<\/p>\n
\u201cChaz had a prior kind of relationship with my family just because we helped out with Method, starting them off the ground with a little bit of sponsorship.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the win, the pair have struggled for outright speed at the first two rounds, and were one of 11 cars handed post-race penalties during Race 2 at Phillip Island due to a pit stop procedure breach.<\/p>\n
Having raced a Mercedes-AMG throughout 2025, Rintoule noted the stark contrast to the McLaren.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely very different,\u201d Rintoule said.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, the Mercedes is a lot heavier and a little bit more of a raw feel compared to the McLaren.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe McLaren is kind of just a bit of a go-kart with a cage around it, so definitely a very different feel and it\u2019s a lot to get used to.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe new tyre that Pirelli brought out has helped everyone corner a lot better, which the McLaren was originally better at compared to a lot of the other manufacturers.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, we\u2019re just missing a little bit of that straight line speed, so hopefully we can get a little bit of a boost in BOP (Balance of Performance] for the next round.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the straight at Tailem Bend, we were about 15km\/h down, so we really struggled with straight line speed compared to a lot of the other cars.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe McLaren can corner really well, so around that triple right hander around the back, we were quite quick, but unfortunately everywhere else, it was just really hard to maintain where we were on track.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe genuinely just got really lucky with the timing of the safety car.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Summer-Rintoule-edit.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Summer Rintoule during her time with T8. Image: Supplied<\/p>\n
Both Mostert and Hughes have been a significant help to Rintoule\u2019s short career, which only began in April of 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dad got me kind of a hot lap package for my birthday, which is actually where I met Jarrod, he was the person who was giving me the hot lap,\u201d said Rintoule.<\/p>\n
\u201c[Jarrod] was one of the first people I ever met in the sport, so it was really great to be able to get that achievement with him because he kind of introduced me to it.<\/p>\n
\u201cChaz is just really great to work with as well, he\u2019s always very helpful, he definitely tells you where you need to work on and just in general.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s done it all before, he\u2019s been in the driving seat and now he\u2019s obviously in a different position in the team, but he definitely still has that helping mind when it comes to trying to communicate to a driver and help them understand what\u2019s going on a bit better as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rintoule noted the step up in the level of competition in GT4 Australia in 2026, with the calibre of drivers coming into the series challenging the young gun to stay sharp.<\/p>\n
\u201cCompared to last year, the competition this year has absolutely exceeded,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, we\u2019ve got heaps of Supercars drivers in there \u2013 you\u2019ve got Aaron Cameron, you\u2019ve got Tony D\u2019Alberto, you\u2019ve got Lochie Dalton, Jarrod Hughes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really cool to see that it\u2019s such a popular category, and it just kind of challenges me a bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously these guys are really good drivers and that level has moved up, then I need to work that bit harder and move that level up as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rintoule described the ever-changing nature of future plans in motorsport, noting her sights are now set on a possible GT future pathway.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think anything can happen, and if you would have asked me two years ago, it would have been Supercars, if you would ask me today, it would be hopefully getting a GT factory drive anywhere I possibly can,\u201d Rintoule said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnything can happen any single day though, you can get an offer to go and drive a completely different car and then that path can change.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, I guess in the end it\u2019s kind of taking every opportunity that comes to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
GT4 Australia heads to Queensland Raceway for Round 3 in early June \u2013 the home track for Rintoule \u2013 and a circuit at which she feels herself and Hughes can be competitive.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really hoping that they have a little bit of a look at that straight line speed so that we can be competitive and strong at Queensland Raceway because it definitely is a strong track,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/t.cfjump.com\/92797\/a\/250635\")
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