As part of the newly introduced Indigenous Round at Darwin this weekend, Supercars teams will all feature aboriginal artwork within the liveries.
There has been a steady trickle of liveries revealed during the past fortnight, but this week it has ramped up ahead of what is a popular event among the Supercars community.
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Mark Winterbottom’s livery designed by Kalkadoon artist Chern’ee Sutton represents community and the first Indigenous Round for Supercars. Designed in collaboration with major sponsors Irwin and Bunnings Trade, U Symbols as well as people are features throughout the artwork representing the spectators attending this weekend as do footsteps. A rainbow serpent features to honour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in addition to the Larrakia people. Finally, kangaroo and emu footprints mark the team’s forward steps.
Local Bryce Fullwood was the final Brad Jones Racing entry to reveal his livery in the Middy’s Electrical ZB Commodore. Inspired by electricity, Fullwood’s artwork was designed by Jedess Hudson, the same artist to feature on teammates Macauley Jones and Andre Heimgartner’s entries. Titled ‘Light My Way’, Hudson explained the artwork is a juxtaposition of Fullwood’s birthplace of Darwin through its distinct seasons and lightening as an original form of energy transference by the First People.
A regular team to institute indigenous liveries in recent years, Shell V-Power Racing revealed a stunning livery composed by Dixon Pattern (Bitja) of Bayila Creative. Influenced by the strong cultural values his family and community have imprinted into his mind, heart and spirit. The ‘Community of Communities’ is centred on five meanings; ripples display everything holds influence, assorted markings and patterns highlight diversity, gum leaves depict family trees and dots alongside elliptical patterns display transference of knowledge from one generation to the next.
Scott Pye’s Nulon livery was designed by Debbie Thaiday and her family in what is a tribute. Both Gail Hine and Grace Hoffman passed away in 2009 due to brain aneurysms in, with the artwork representing each. A butterfly on the roof represents Hine, while Hoffman symbolised as a large turtle. Torres Strait Island Pigeon and Crocodile are a totem for each woman, while the black tip reef shark is featured to represent Thaiday’s family. Four yellow frangipanis symbolise the four children of Hine and Hoffman.
The first of two PremiAir Racing liveries was revealed, with Chris Pither’s Coca Cola supported entry featuring a design by Kiewa Tya Austin-Rioli. The stunning artwork represents unity of people and the connections and strength of these the Aboriginal people have across Australia.
Elaine Chambers-Hegarty creating ‘Making Tracks’ to feature on Garry Jacobson’s Subway-sponsored PremiAir Racing ZB Commodore. Highlighting the connections of past, present and future by reflecting on journey pathways, not only within the Aboriginal community, but for the non-Indigenous as well.
Matt Stone Racing is one of the few two-car teams to feature matching liveries for the ZB Commodores of Todd Hazelwood and Jack Le Brocq. Trent Bundirrick Lee composed the artwork depicting the Kapok tree, representing the change of season as Darwin itself will experience after the event is complete.
An artwork by Les ‘Lipwurrunga’ Huddleston will not just feature on Thomas Randle’s Castrol Tickford Racing Ford Mustang, but also the BP Ultimate safety car. Symbolising life in the Top End, fish and a billabong are included, while a centre circle represents a special meeting place and personal lines depict energy in addition to power from the vehicles from the racetrack.
Another to share liveries is Walkinshaw Andretti United, with Brian ‘Deadly’ DeVries designing the artwork featured on Chaz Mostert and Nick Percat’s ZB Commodore, while Rhonda Sampson produced the one emblazoned on Wildcard Jayden Ojeda’s entry. DeVries’ artwork is titled ‘Community Togetherness’ highlighting the journeys of travel coming together, meeting places, ripples of communication where knowledge is shared and plentiful. Aligning with the KARI Foundation, Sampson created Community, Culture and Connection is depicted on Ojeda’s entry.
Boost Mobile Racing elected to showcase a small artwork and donate $10,000 to the Starlight Foundation’s Healthier Futures Initiative. The designed composed by Bininj artist Dale Austin represents male and female Mimih spirits, which according to this community taught people how to survive the bush.
Tickford Racing’s rookie Zak Best will sport support from Opposite Lock mixed in with a subdued indigenous artwork shared across teammates Cameron Waters and James Courtney’s Mustangs.
