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Racing Together, the innovative Indigenous Australian motorsport program from Motorsport Australia, celebrated the launch of its new headquarters over the weekend. The program, initially based at Norwell Motorplex on the Gold Coast under the guidance of former Supercars driver Paul Morris, has now found its permanent home at the newly renovated Queensland Raceway in Ipswich.
The grand opening of the new headquarters was attended by esteemed dignitaries, including Motorsport Australia President Andrew Fraser, Federal Member for Blair, Shayne Newman MP, and Assistant Minister for Hydrogen Development Lance MacCallum MP. The event marked a significant milestone for this ground-breaking initiative, which aims to empower and encourage young Indigenous Australians to actively participate in motorsport. Participants are selected to build, prepare, and race Hyundai Excels in state championship events in Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Since its inception in 2020, Racing Together has experienced exponential growth and garnered global recognition. The program received prestigious acclaim last year when it was honored with the inaugural FIA President's Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Award, presented by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The program's remarkable expansion necessitated larger facilities, and Queensland Raceway owner Tony Quinn extended his support to provide a permanent home for Racing Together at the circuit. Garry Connelly, the Founder of Racing Together, expressed his delight and gratitude towards both Quinn and Morris for their invaluable support.
“Tony Quinn has been an amazing supporter of Racing Together and thanks to his generosity, we have been able to move into larger facilities than where we were previously,” Connelly said.
“Having a dedicated space to be able to run Racing Together will enable us to take the program to the next level, and provide an environment for our inductees that fully represents a race team working environment."
“When we launched in 2020, there was virtually no indigenous participation in motorsport, so we’re proud we’ve been able to encourage first nations Australians to become involved in the sport, and four of the inductees from our original intake have already found employment within the sport.”
Racing Together plans to compete with at least three Hyundai Excels in the 2023 Motorsport Australia Queensland Circuit Racing Championships, with drivers Braedyn Cidoni and Karlai Warner confirmed to represent the program. As Racing Together settles into its new headquarters at Queensland Raceway, it is poised to continue breaking barriers, promoting diversity, and nurturing the next generation of Indigenous Australian motorsport champions. With the support of industry leaders and the unwavering dedication of its founder and mentors, Racing Together will remain at the forefront of promoting inclusivity and providing opportunities for aspiring Indigenous motorsport enthusiasts.
Read the full article here.
Photo Courtesy Motorsport Australia
Courtesy Motorsport Australia
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