Thanks for visiting Rianna Racing. We’ll be posting an announcements and updates here, so stay tuned. Exciting times ahead!
History maker.
#driven
First ever junior female to become an Australian Rotax State Champion in 2017
First ever junior female to win New Zealand Rotax Max Challenge rounds in 2017
NZ3 – 3rd in New Zealand Sprint Nationals in both 2016 & 2017
NZ representative at the Rok World Cup, Italy in 2019 & 2020
NZ1 – 1st in NZ Superkart Nationals Grand Prix in 2020
2020 North Island Champion – DVS Senior Class
Holder of many other of New Zealand regional titles
Rianna O’Meara-Hunt is 20, lives just outside of Wellington, New Zealand, is furiously competitive on the track, and a quiet humble achiever off of it.
Rianna’s aspirations are about more than just karts and race tracks… they of course include continuing to create history, but by doing so, Rianna hopes to provide the opportunity to motivate and create change to inspire young people in all walks of life, to sit up and take notice, and to believe that with hard work, self belief and determination, they too can achieve.
Inspiration, positive social change and the breaking down of barriers: all of these things can be fulfilled through the writing of Rianna’s story and realisation of her dreams.
2022 and beyond.
#driven
With the exciting history making achievements from a stellar karting career, Rianna continues to turn heads and attract attention inside the world of motorsport as she begins to switch gears in her career with her focus now on cars.
A recent media campaign for Jaguar saw her appear on “The Project” inside a 3-part feature, celebrating Sybil Lupp’s ground-breaking achievements inside motorsport from the 1950’s. Rianna was one of three highly decorated young motorsport women to be selected where she coached television personality Kanoa Lloyd through a Flying Quarter Mile Sprint – one of Lupp’s most well-known races. Rianna is no rookie when it comes to media with Sky Sport features, radio talk back and plenty of print pieces completed over the years about her.
In 2022 Rianna was selected for the inaugural “Heart of Racing” driver academy in the hard fought, ultra competitive Toyota 86 Racing Series. A true rookie in every sense of the word meant for a challenging but productive learning year. While race results were not where she would have liked, word from the top was that the focus through the season was on driver development, building a technical knowledge base and realising driver potential.
Working inside a world class internationally respected team and one-on-one with a highly experienced race engineer Rianna soon impressed with her ability to soak up new information and then implement out on track.
With the series now over and the season review complete, we are excited to be able to share that Rianna has been invited to compete in a one week test for a new racing team that is being assembled for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Series in the USA.
MORE DETAILS
The series is competed over 10 rounds on some of America’s most iconic tracks and consists of many car brands including, Aston Martin, Audi, Porsche, and Mclaren to name a few.
Rianna has been writing her story and working towards this goal for many years. As I’m sure you understand the opportunity is incredible and one that many aspiring racers would never receive despite their years of hard work. As Rianna and her family have always done, they continue to take responsibility themselves and invest in her future both financially and with time by preparing as thoroughly as possible to provide the best platform to succeed.
This approach has served Rianna well to date, so they aim to cover all costs relating to travel through the build up, the upcoming driver training in NZ and at Norwell Motorplex.
Rianna and the team also plan to complete a few test days in a GT4 spec car as well as continue to obtain as much seat time as possible in events like the upcoming South Island Endurance Series, for which they are seeking some financial assistance.
In the same way a building needs strong foundations, a memorable story needs other inspirational characters. We hope to write Rianna’s story with the inclusion of like minded, positive and forward thinking characters who are compelled to see good people fulfil their potential while becoming the inspiring role models they were always destined to be.
Times are certainly changing and now more than ever we are seeing women progress in all aspects of motorsport, be it as drivers, mechanics, race engineers, commentators, and even team principals. The time is right to build on this momentum.
Rianna is an authentic and responsible ambassador with a fierce commitment on track, balanced by her natural humility off track. Should you think this determined, history making young lady is a fit and feel the same excitement to be a part of her story, we would like to invite you to join us as a key character, assisting Rianna to achieve her dreams, while contributing to the inspiration of many.
Let’s write this story together.
What’s next.
#driven
ROAD TO ARIZONA
With a deadline now set for the one week test for a new racing team that is being assembled for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Series in the USA, the challenge is before us to ensure we give ourselves every chance to maximise the opportunity presented.
The test will take place in Arizona, USA at Apex Racetrack with a number of candidates from across the globe. Candidates will be assessed on many things, not simply the fastest lap, but also on other criteria, not all of which are known to them.
The following proposal describes the plan to ensure Rianna is as prepared as possible for all scenarios. We are looking to develop a professional, extensive and thorough build up covering all aspects of preparation for a successful next chapter in a budding racing career.
We are seeking to partner with experts and professionals in a number of areas including, business owners, race team principals, driver coaches, race engineers, media, mental and fitness coaches, family and friends. All of these people will have a like minded passion and drive for success.
PLANNED SCENES
Mental Coaching
Getting the head really in the game and being mentally prepared for anything that is thrown at us be it expected or left field
Test Days with Driver Training
Laps in the car, both an Aston Martin GT4 and Toyota 86 with some of New Zealand’s best drivers as mentors and trainers
Norwell Training
Wet and dry training including the skid pan at Australia’s best facility
Technical Feedback
Assessment of technical feedback of the handling of the car with world class race engineers
Simulator Laps
Natural stepping stone for preparing for Aston laps, running many different tracks with the same car model
SI Endurance Series
Endurance racing practice and general seat time completed in a Toyota 86
Key dates.
#driven
JULY
- 6-8 Jul: Norwell available
- 13 Jul: Norwell available
- 14-15 Jul: RaceLab GT4 Test
- 22 Jul: Hampton GT Day
- 28 Jul: Hampton GT Day
AUGUST
- 2 Aug: Hampton GT Day
- 18-19 Aug: Hampton GT Day
- 21 Aug: Hampton GT Day
- 26 Aug: Hampton GT Day
SEPTEMBER
- 2-3 Sept: SI Endurance Series Round 1 – Ruapuna
- 8-10 Sept: Toyota 86 Non Championship Pukekohe
- 23-24 Sept: SI Endurance Series Round 2 – Teratonga
OCTOBER
- 14-15 Oct: SI Endurance Series Round 3 – Levels
- 28-29 Oct: SI Endurance Series FINAL – Highlands
NOVEMBER
- 7 Nov: IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Series – Arizona, USA
Budgets.
#driven
FUNDING/BUDGET SUMMARY
Self funded
Rianna and her family are investing $50k into the peripheral and background costs, but are searching for some assistance to run the key components of the plan, being the GT4 test days and the SI Endurance Series. Any amount large or small will play a key component in the success of Rianna’s story.
GT4 test days
Shane Helms and his RaceLab team have generously donated the availability of their Aston Martin GT4 vehicle. The running costs and maintenance however are of course on us to cover.
Currently the 4 test days planned will incur costs in the vicinity of $45k total.
SI Endurance series
Deb Day, Dayle ITM has generously donated her Toyota 86 vehicle for practice and use during the season. The running costs and maintenance however are of course on us to cover.
Currently the single test day and 4 race day series will incur costs in the vicinity of $50k total.
Vehicle signage for a major sponsor: For a major sponsor there is an opportunity to sign write the vehicle inside this series for an additional fee. Budgets and graphic requirements can be discussed.
Characters.
#driven
Creating history isn’t easy and certainly cannot be done alone. Partnering together with like minded, progressive organisations and inspirational mentors, we believe provides a greater opportunity to achieve something special, not just for Rianna, but for society in general.
Tim White – Race Engineer and Advisor
Rianna is excited to continue this story with Tim after developing a great trust and working relationship during last years Toyota 86 season. Tim brings a wealth of knowledge, engineering for top teams in the worlds leading motor racing events and most importantly a passion to see Rianna succeed.
Shane Helms – RaceLab, Team Principal
In a new and exciting partnership with RaceLab, Shane and his team have provided the opportunity for Rianna to test in the same type of car that we will be driving when she reaches the USA, as well as providing access to their in-house simulator.
Anthony Klarica – Elite Performance
Anthony is a well respected sports psychologist and performance coach. He has worked with Australian teams internationally and at the Olympic games, with national sporting bodies, AFL clubs, tennis Australia, motorsport drivers and teams, rugby teams and with a wide variety of other sports and individual athletes. He has also worked through this exact scenario previously with other athletes.
Greg Murphy
We are feeling super privileged to have Greg Murphy as a driver mentor and partner on this journey. Greg’s legendary feats behind the wheel are an inspiration and his industry contacts built over many years are invaluable.
Deborah Day – Dayle ITM
Deb has been a long time supporter of all things motorsport, and the black and yellow of Dayle ITM has been on show at the worlds best motor sport precincts. Deb is also involved in the ‘Women in Motorsport’ organisation and is keen to see women succeed in this sport. A successful business owner operator herself Deb has generously offered her Toyota 86 race car for Rianna to participate in the South Island Endurance Rounds.
Additional lead and supporting roles
The greater the number of characters the greater potential this story has… Can you play a role?
Racing CV.
#driven
A year by year racing CV is listed below. Only key regional and national events have been listed.
Media.
#driven
Click on the links below to check out Rianna’s recent television interview with SkySpeed NZ and also some other media channels.
Gallery.
#driven
Check out some photos of Rianna’s recent racing below.
Contact.
#driven
While the numbers are large, so is the opportunity.
Drivers from all backgrounds strive for chances like the one that has been presented to Rianna and her family. We hope that Rianna’s successful history to date, and the professionalism of the plan and the people that we are building around her fills you with the confidence that this is one serious lady and an authentic ambassador that will work hard for success!
Should you think this humble, authentic, yet determined, history maker is a fit and feel the same excitement to be a part of her story, we would like to invite you to join us as a key character, assisting Rianna to achieve her dreams, while contributing to the inspiration of many.
Thank you for taking the time to read this proposal and for considering if you are in a position to assist in writing this story. Not all assistance needs to be financial. We invite you to contact Tim or Rianna to discuss next steps.
RIANNA O’MEARA-HUNT
M +64 (0)21 082 35571
TIM WHITE | TIM WHITE MANAGEMENT
M +64 (0)27 473 8976