KADE Davey became the first Indigenous Australian racer to drive a Gen3 Supercar when he sampled one of the Shell V-Power Racing Team’s Ford Mustangs on Friday.
The 18-year-old, who is of Martu and Manyjilyjarra heritage, drove one of the team’s cars during a general practice day at Queensland Raceway.
Despite Supercars testing rules limiting the amount of time he could spend behind the wheel, Davey impressed the team members present during his nine-lap run.
The opportunity came through the Shell V-Power Racing Team’s partnership with Racing Together, a non-profit organisation whose mission is to create opportunities and pathways for young Indigenous Australians into motorsport and STEM – science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Davey has been a member of the program since late 2023. The former Western Australia karting champion graduated to racing cars with the program, initially in Hyundai Excels, then last year racing simultaneously in the GR Cup and its second-tier Scholarship Series.
He is focused on the GR Cup in 2026 and claimed a career-best second overall in its most recent round, which featured on the support card for last weekend’s Supercars Ipswich Super 440.
Davey sits eighth in the GR Cup standings ahead of the next round at Mount Panorama, on the support card for this year’s Repco Bathurst 1000.
The Shell V-Power Racing Team will next be in action on September 11-13 at The Bend 500, for which Brodie Kostecki and co-driver Todd Hazelwood are the reigning champions.
For more information on the Racing Together program, head to its website: https://racingtogether.org/
KADE DAVEY
Racer, Racing Together
On finding out about the opportunity:
“I was actually at work at the Norwell Motorplex on Monday, we were washing the truck and Garry asked if I was going to have my race suit with me Friday. I was, because my teammate Karlai (Warner) is racing in the GR Cup Scholarship Series this weekend, so I was going to jump in her car and have a run. And Garry said, ‘Oh, that's good mate, because you're going to drive a Gen3 Supercar’. I couldn't believe it.”
On what it was like to drive the Shell V-Power Racing Team’s Gen3 Ford Mustang Supercar:
“It was pretty unreal. Growing up as a kid, you're always watching Supercars and DJR is one of the teams that I went for growing up – and still do. To get behind the wheel of the Supercar, it was pretty crazy. I'm definitely going to be thinking about it for the next couple of weeks now.
On the big jump in performance from his usual racecar:
“I was lucky enough to do a couple of laps in Nash Morris' TA2 (Trans Am) car a little while ago, and that's the only other thing that I’ve driven with a bit of horsepower. The next most powerful thing is the Toyota 86 that I’ve been racing for the last two years – it’s a pretty big jump from 200 horsepower to 650! That was definitely one of the most fun parts of driving the Gen3 Supercar for me: getting into something that has so much power and trying to look after it.
On a future racing in Supercars:
“Supercars is definitely the long-term goal. I'm still in GR Cup at the moment so I've still got such a long, long journey to go, but that would be the ultimate goal.”
On the Racing Together program:
“Prior to getting into car racing, I was doing go-karting at the national level, and then we found out about the Racing Together program through Michael Patrizi. My mum and I got in contact with Garry and Monique Connelly. Without their support and the support of all our sponsors, I wouldn't be here doing this today. I’m definitely very, very grateful for all of that.”
RYAN STORY
Executive Chairman and co-owner, Shell V-Power Racing Team
Director, Racing Together
“We very proudly support Racing Together and have for a longtime. Kade is having a great season in the 86 and I was particularly impressed with his drive in Townsville, not to mention last week here at QR. To be able to give him this opportunity along with my friends Garry and Monique Connelly, is very special. It highlights the success of the team and program, and rewards the hard work of all involved. It’s a special privilege to serve on the Racing Together board alongside the Connellys, Paul Morris, who does an incredible job with these kids, Roland Dane, Ian Gillespie and Taliqua Clancy. Brodie Kostecki has also been a big supporter of Racing Together too, having worked closely with Kade, Karlai Warner and all the members of the team at Norwell, as well as hopping on the tools with them.”
GARRY CONNELLY
Founder, Racing Together
“We are extremely excited and grateful to the Shell V-Power Racing Team and my friend and fellow board member Ryan Story for this great opportunity offered to Kade. Kade represents all that Racing Together stands for and sitting behind the wheel of that Ford Mustang is not just an honour for him, it's an honour for our entire Racing Together team. Seeing Kade out on track as the first Indigenous Australia to drive a Supercar gives us a great sense of pride and hope for the future.”
