A powerful message underpins the livery that Shell V-Power Racing Team will sport for the annual Indigenous Round of the Repco Supercars Championship in Darwin this weekend.
The Shell V-Power Mustangs of Brodie Kostecki and Rylan Gray will both carry the new look in the Darwin Triple Crown at Hidden Valley Raceway, and was revealed live on the Nine Network during the Today Show on Thursday morning.
The livery incorporates artwork by Wadawurrung man Billy-Jay O’Toole.
Titled ‘Gathering’, the sentiment of the piece can be summarised in three words in Wadawurrung.
Koling wada ngal.
Let us walk together.
“Being a proud Wadawurrung man growing up on Wadawurrung Country in Coriyu, (now known as Corio) was aware that the Shell headquarters was once located there,” O’Toole explains.
“Long before colonisation, this was a place of great abundance. Wadawurrung people lived here, gathered here, and sustained life and resources for thousands of generations.
“My ancestors were banned by colonisers from living on and collecting resources from Corio region.
“But today, my people live there again alongside many other Community families and it’s become a place of connection, belonging, community, sport, and education.
“Just like this Darwin event, it is about bringing people together honouring and celebrating the oldest living culture in the world through the Supercars indigenous round.
“As the sun rises and the event begins, may it remind us all to rise, learn, grow, achieve, and inspire to celebrate First Nations culture at the forefront.
“Koling wada ngal (let us walk together).”
The Indigenous-liveried Shell V-Power Mustangs had their first public outing in Thursday afternoon’s Track to Town event, ahead of their race debut on Friday afternoon.
Kostecki enters the round third in points, 173 off the top of the standings. Rookie Gray sits 21st but Hidden Valley is the first track this year that he has raced at previously in a Gen3 Supercar; he made his championship debut in Darwin as a wildcard last year.
Live coverage of every Supercars practice, qualifying and race at the Darwin Triple Crown can be watched on FOXTEL and Kayo Sports.
