New Zealand Driver Makes E1 Debut as Last-Minute Sierra Replacement
Rianna O’Meara Hunt made her E1 Series competitive debut at Jeddah after being called up as Sierra Racing Club’s reserve driver when Catie Munnings sustained a leg injury playing paddle tennis.
The 24-year-old New Zealander partnered four-time UIM F2 World Champion Erik Stark in Sierra’s brand new RaceBird, reaching Q2 before elimination and finishing fifth in qualifying.
Munnings injured her leg approximately two weeks before the season opener. O’Meara Hunt stepped in despite limited preparation time with the team and no prior competitive powerboat racing experience.
Challenging Debut
Sierra Racing Club faced additional pressure as a new team making its competitive debut. The outfit was announced in November 2024 and confirmed Stark and Munnings as their driver lineup on 20 January 2026, just three days before the Jeddah event.
Stark expressed satisfaction with fifth place given the circumstances.
Yes we are very happy with fifth place. We are up with the fast ones but we just need some more time in the boat, as it’s totally new this year.
The result placed Sierra ahead of Team Drogba Global Africa, Team AlUla Championed by LeBron James, Team Monaco, Team Miami powered by Magnus, and Team Blue Rising in the qualifying order.
Motorsport Background
O’Meara Hunt began racing at age eight when her father purchased a go-kart at Kaitoke circuit in Upper Hutt, New Zealand. She became the first junior female to win an Australian Rotax State Championship and New Zealand Rotax Max Challenge rounds in 2017.
She represented New Zealand at the ROK World Finals in Italy in 2019 and 2020, competing alongside drivers who progressed to international single-seater racing including Liam Lawson and Matt Payne.
Her transition to car racing began with the Toyota 86 Championship in New Zealand in 2022. Later that year she won the Heart of Racing driver shootout with assistance from New Zealand motorsport figure Greg Murphy, earning a seat in the SRO GT4 America SprintX Championship for 2023.
Aston Martin Success
Partnering Hannah Grisham in 2023, O’Meara Hunt made history as the first all-female driver pairing to win an Aston Martin race. The team secured a double victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Selection for the Aston Martin Racing Elite Academy followed in early 2024. She relocated from Stratford-upon-Avon in the United Kingdom and competed in GT Cup with Forsetti Motorsport, Aston Martin’s GT4 factory team.
She recorded multiple podium finishes throughout the season, including victory at Snetterton. Her 2024 programme also included the 24 Hours of Dubai where she finished third in the GT4 class with Century MotorSport.
First Junior Female Australian Rotax Champion
First All-Female Aston Martin Win
Aston Martin Elite Academy Selection
Age
E1 Series Role
O’Meara Hunt held a development role with Team Drogba Global Africa but the reserve driver assignment for Sierra Racing Club represents her first competitive E1 Series appearance. Whether she continues with Sierra for subsequent rounds depends on Munnings’ recovery timeline.
Munnings joined Sierra after two seasons with Team Brazil and Team AlUla, recording four podium finishes. The British driver brings European Rally Championship and Extreme E experience to the E1 paddock.
Future Ambitions
O’Meara Hunt has stated her ambition to become the first New Zealand female driver to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. She also targets a seat in F1 Academy, the female-only Formula 4 single-seater championship founded by the Formula One group.
Based in the United Kingdom since her Aston Martin Academy selection, she continues to pursue opportunities in European GT4 racing alongside her E1 Series involvement.
John Moore is the editor of Powerboat News, an independent investigative journalism platform recognised by Google News and documented on Grokipedia for comprehensive powerboat racing coverage.
His involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In September 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
