A program born out of Logan which promises to put an Indigenous motor racing team on the track later this month has attracted big-name backing.
Triple Eight Race Engineering managing director Roland Dane, Dick Johnson Racing chairman Ryan Story and Paul Morris Motorsports owner Paul Morris have been appointed Directors of Racing Together.
The group will enter a team in the Series X3 Queensland Championship later this month. They will join existing directors, former RACQ chief executive officer Ian Gillespie AM, and Monique and Garry Connelly AM.
The concept began to recruit team members last year, with a view to create a pathway into professional or amateur motorsport for boys and girls of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background.
Following the success of the program in Logan, it will now look at opportunities in other states.
Founder and backer Garry Connelly said the new directors would bring unrivalled experience to the project and help motivate the team of 10, who were selected from around 80 applicants.
“These young people are just starting out, but will benefit from the advice and encouragement of some of the very top names in Australian motor-racing,” Mr Connelly said.
“We’re very grateful that Roland, Ryan and Paul have agreed to contribute their time and experience.”
Paul Morris’s Norwell Motorplex facility is providing workshop space to build the team’s first Hyundai Excel race car and on-track training for 17-year-old driver Braeydn Cidoni.
Roland Dane, whose Triple Eight Engineering workshop installed the roll cage in the car, said he was delighted to help put an Indigenous driver and team on track.
“I’m honoured and excited to have been asked to sit on the board of Racing Together. Garry and Monique are superbly positioned to bring their years of experience in the sport at an international level to bear in this great project,” Mr Dane said.
“I’m really looking forward to helping them make a difference and open doors into motorsport at all levels for the young Indigenous community.”
DJR’s Ryan Story said: “The responsibility to make motorsport as inclusive as possible and creating opportunities for young First Nations people not only in motorsport, but also in STEM, is something that is at the very heart of Racing Together and the priority of myself and my fellow directors.”
Paul Morris said driver Braeydn Cidoni had demonstrated strong aptitude and talent for someone with no previous experience behind the wheel.
“Motor-racing develops tangible skills that will stay with these young people throughout their journey through life,” he said.
As well as driving, other roles Racing Together team members will undertake include building a new race car, logistics, race-day servicing, data-logging and workshop maintenance.
Until their car is completed, the team will race a ready-built car, starting at Morgan Park in Warwick on March 27-28.
Caption: The Board of Directors of Racing Together, from left, Roland Dane, Ian Gillespie AM, Ryan Story, Monique Connelly, Garry Connelly AM (Chairman), Paul Morris.
