#driven is a statement, a commitment, and a challenge. It’s also the focus and a driving force for Rianna O’Meara-Hunt, as she moves towards her goals in the world of motorsport. A multiple karting champion, 21-year-old Rianna is now preparing for the biggest challenge of her motorsport journey: a season of racing in the USA.
We had the pleasure of talking with Rianna as she prepares for the season ahead.
For those who don’t know you, how and when did you get started in racing, tell us a bit more about your motorsport journey.
RR: I have been involved in motorsport from the age of 3 with my Father racing cars, so being brought up in and around race tracks made for a pretty set path.
I started karting at the age of 8 in Wellington, New Zealand. I have competed and won titles all over NZ, and raced for multiple years in multiple classes in Australia – creating history for women at the age of 16 by becoming the first-ever junior woman to win a State Title at an Australian Rotax Pro Tour event. I have also competed successfully in Europe representing NZ at the Rok World Finals.
In late 2021 I was approached by International Motorsport in New Zealand to race my first year of cars with them in the 2022 Toyota 86 category backed by a team called The Heart of Racing. While the season was challenging both on and off track and was not as successful as I wanted it to be, I have taken away the many learnings and worked hard outside of the season to further develop my skill base and confidence levels.
During my end-of-season debrief with Ian the team principal at Heart of Racing, he offered the opportunity to apply for their female driver shootout which was for a full-time seat in their Aston Martin Vantage GT4, to race in the 2023 SRO GT4 championship in the USA. Over 100 applications were received from all over the world with only 9 drivers being selected to attend the ‘shootout’ in Phoenix.
You have recently made the move from karts to cars, what are the biggest challenges you have had to overcome moving into cars and in between these different forms of motorsport?
RR: My biggest challenge when moving from karts to cars was getting used to the size, weight, grip levels and roll of a car. With no experience of how to drive a car on the edge, for the majority of the season I was confusing the roll with a slide and was backing out of the throttle application, losing the required momentum and speed to be competitive. It was purely an experience and confidence issue.
Working with my ever-patient engineer Tim White through the season, I slowly began to learn the difference and improve this aspect of my driving. A lot of hard work and many hours watching video and studying data helped me grasp the concept as well as begin to understand the engineering requirements and language needed in the set-up of a car.
At the end of the season and with covid lockdowns eventually gone, I was able to go to Norwell Motor Plex in Australia and work with Paul Morris and his team on the skid pan. This was a real breakthrough moment for my confidence and my ability to ‘feel’ a car. Additionally, some times working for Downforce NZ and getting some access to driving time on the snow fields reinforced these learnings as well.
My first ever drive in a GT4 car was in the pouring rain at Hampton but with an 86 season under my belt and my Norwell and Downforce experiences, the step from the 86 into the Aston was an easier one. With the additional aero, better tyre and all-round driveability of the car it felt much more like a kart to me. I felt instantly at home and confident.
In November you were selected from a worldwide driver search of over 100 female applicants by ‘The Heart of Racing’ for their GT4 programme. Tell us about the experience of going to the USA and competing in the two-day shoot-out in Phoenix.
RR: This was an experience of a lifetime, for me, it was my first ever time to the States, so that in itself was a bit daunting.
I got flown from Wellington to Phoenix arriving a day or so before the start of the shootout so had a little time to acclimatise to the conditions and time zone difference.
The night before the test commenced we had a Heart of Racing team dinner where we met the other contenders, the teams existing professional drivers and the management team. This relaxed environment prior to the event was a great way to meet everyone and settle the nerves.
Day 1 was all about familiarisation with the car, track and new people.
While we were still being evaluated, it wasn’t the most important day. The team provided three identical Aston Martin Vantage GT4 cars and each car had three drivers sharing it. Three cars with three different drivers were out on track each session. With the prep I had done in the Aston back in NZ I was instantly comfortable in the car, knowing the locations of each button on the wheel and where all the controls, etc were, so I was able to concentrate solely on learning the new track from early on in the day. Each driver was provided four 30 min sessions on track but we were not allowed to go through data or video until after session 3. While I made gains each session my biggest gain was session 4, after the opportunity to review video and data with the team’s current professional drivers. Tim White, you taught me well! I find video and data my best tools for moving forward and learning.
Each contender also performed mock interviews and media assessments with the management team in between our driving sessions.
Day 2 was simulation day where the team was really focussing on our driving.
Each driver was provided with their own set of green tyres to manage through one 20 min qualifying session in the morning and two 25 min race simulations in the afternoon. While we did not know specifically what the team were looking for, they were assessing overall performance on track (fastest time), consistency of lap time through each session, tyre conservation, but also, importantly how we planned out the day and the sessions to maximise the opportunity.
We were able to look at data and video after our qualifying sim and race sim 1, we had the opportunity to discuss the team’s feedback and put a plan in place for the final run of what we were going to do and where we might improve. It was then up to each driver to show we could listen to the advice and implement the plan. We could not look at data or video after race sim 2 this was for the team to break down and discuss.
Between race sim 1 and 2, I also had a filmed interview with the team principal Ian, which covered several questions about the shootout experience and how I am as a person.
At the day’s conclusion the drivers either then flew direct back home or most of the internationals returned to the hotel to fly out the following day and begin the two week wait to hear the teams’ driver decision.
How do you prepare for a race meeting, both physically and mentally? And what is the mindset required to overcome adversity?
RR: My preparation for a race meeting or test is consistent. I feel it is important to have a routine so your mind and body are aware of what is coming up.
I keep up my physical fitness with 3-4 weight sessions a week plus 3 cardio sessions, either running or biking. This weekly routine does not change even if I am not racing for 3 months or if my race is the following week. I find this my best way to keep the body strong and the mind focused.
A week out of any race meet or test I have a call with my sports psychologist and we work through anything I am concerned about or anything on my mind. We create a structured plan around sleep patterns and diet prior to the event (especially if overseas in changing time zones), the race meeting format and my approach to each part, how and when I will analyse video and data or write on a track map.
I will study video and write track maps four days prior to any event so I can let the notes and observations sink subconsciously and I then go back to it the morning of the first day at the track.
What advice would you have for those young karters who are just starting in the sport, that would help him or her on their motorsport journey?
RR: When starting out in the sport, remember to enjoy it first, and don’t feel instant pressure to perform at the highest level or to keep moving from class to class. Enjoy a little time in the sun at the top of your age group class before moving on to the next one – it builds confidence.
Karts and cars are quite different, so your best chance of success if moving through will be to move when you feel ready and excited, not simply when everyone else is pressuring you to move. If you are a driver that likes to train and prep before something new, then allow yourself time to do it out of the spotlight.
If you’re serious about wanting to go further inside the sport, then just like life, it takes hard work, time and dedication to succeed. Nothing worth having comes easy!
Rianna O’Meara-Hunt
Tell us about the upcoming season, moving to America, driving an Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in the 2023 Pirelli GT4 America Series, the championship, the team you’re with, and your race schedule.
RR: The SRO GT4 championship is raced over 7 rounds from April through October. We are competing in the AM championship. Hannah [Grisham] and I will be sharing the car at each event, both having to drive in each race, so working on and refining the car together will be critical.
Hannah is American, and so she has some prior knowledge of the tracks, but they will all be completely new to me. Being able to learn them quickly is going to be one of the keys to success.
Currently, the plan is not to move to the States, but the team will fly me in and out each round, however, I will take the opportunity to stay on in the States between some of my rounds where I will join the team at their IMSA programs to really immerse myself in the environment and learn as much as I can, sitting in on driver briefings and watching how the pro’s and the team approach their weekends. I am really excited about this learning opportunity.
Driving the Aston Martin itself is such a thrill – it is such a well-balanced car that it encourages confidence. I can’t wait to hop back in it again at our first pre-season test this month.
What would a successful season look like for you and what are your motorsport goals for the future?
RR: A successful season would be improving our results every round, increasing experience and confidence and delivering on the potential the team have seen in me. Of course, I would love to be competing for the top positions and bringing silverware back to the team, but I am happy to wait until after the first round to see where we sit, to then set some serious but high-reaching goals together as a team.
My motorsport goals in general are to be a pro driver in endurance style racing, IMSA for example, so following some of the rounds this year is going to be a great way to really grasp what it is all about.
Motorsport is very much a team sport. Is there anyone you would like to thank who has supported you along the way?
RR: Motorsport is such a team sport, results are only achievable through the hard work and passion of everyone involved – not simply the driver.
I feel it is important to prepare well and professionally for everything I do and this takes teamwork and the assistance of outside experts. Even through karting, I always surrounded myself with high achievers and like-minded people who are driven and can work towards a joint goal. Through this process these people have become like family to us and that is what it’s all about for me.
With regard to this recent GT4 opportunity, it was most certainly a team effort.
Direct family play a massive part, encouraging and doing their best to support opportunities both emotionally and financially that present.
I certainly would not have made it through my 86 season or felt so well prepared for the shootout without the efforts of my engineer Tim White. He really put in a lot of additional hours behind the scenes, sourcing new opportunities for learnings, teaching me so much about data and car set-up and importantly keeping the faith and helping me fire up my passion and love for this sport when times were tough.
RaceLab assisted me with testing in their Aston Martin GT4 prior to the shootout and are now continuing to help me grow both as a driver and individual providing an exciting partnership opportunity through 2023 and beyond.
Greg Murphy and Tom Alexander both spent time with me driver coaching, Greg Rust shared his expertise with media training and confidence building in front of a camera.
I sought out a sports psychologist in Australia who works with some of the best drivers in our sport and now have my own great working relationship with him.
Sponsors of course are key to most of us! One of my main sponsors, Golden Homes in the Southern Lakes, has not only provided some funding for my pre-test preparation allowing me some seat and race time, but have also coached me through media interview techniques and provided additional tools to use for public speaking. An awesome husband and wife led team with so many skills between them – lovely people and great mentors.
Deb and Martin from Dayle ITM, are already massive sponsors of so many and have also been major contributors to my recent motorsport journey. I am privileged to feel part of the team and excited to see what we can generate for each other in 2023 and beyond.
To everyone who has assisted along the way – I am so thankful, but stay tuned as this journey is only just getting started 😁.
Finally, for our readers who would like to follow your progress, where can they find you?
RR: People can find me on Instagram at @riannaracing and on Facebook at @riannaracing.
My website – http://www.riannaracing.com – is where you can keep up to date.
The Heart of Racing team’s Instagram at @theheartofracing and Facebook is @heartofracing. They will also be posting updates over a race weekend.
In the words of Theodore Roosevelt-
“Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life.”
Whatever the results in the coming season, one thing is certain, Rianna is putting in the hard work, time and dedication required to achieve her goals, #driven.
You can hear more from Rianna on a recent episode of Girls On The Grid Podcast.
