Logan’s own 10-member indigenous motor racing team, Racing Together, is preparing for its second event this weekend.
The team is receiving praise from all corners, including Formula 1 racing star Sir Lewis Hamilton.
The boys and girls sourced from Logan and based at Norwell Motorplex will contest Round 2 of the Series X3 Queensland Championship for Hyundai Excel cars at the Morgan Park Raceway, Warwick.
Since its debut meeting in March, the team has spent almost every weekend at Norwell working on its current race car, building a new car for future events, driver-training and learning the many other technical and management skills needed to compete successfully in motorsport.
The pilot project was launched by international motorsport identities Garry and Monique Connelly, and has since gained support from many within the motor sport industry.
Members have benefited from the expert advice of Supercar team operators and Racing Together directors Ryan Story (Dick Johnson Racing), Roland Dane (Triple Eight Race Engineering) and Paul Morris (Paul Morris Motorsport).
New Indigenous director Taliqua Clancy has offered her encouragement while preparing to represent Australia in beach volleyball at the Tokyo Olympics next month.
Supercar drivers Broc Feeney and Brodie Kostecki also have spent time with team members. Kostecki’s Supercar sponsor Boost Mobile has given every team member a mobile phone.
“My wife and I launched Racing Together late last year because it was clear young Indigenous Australians were lacking the opportunity to enjoy the many positive experiences in motorsport,” Garry Connelly (AM) said.
“The young people we have selected for this pilot programme have responded superbly to the challenges. We’re confident they’ll do well in their racing programme and will provide a successful example for the creation of other Racing Together teams around the country.
“One of the reasons for their positive progress has been the wonderful help received from many people. The program has sparked wide interest from people in the sport, Aboriginal organisations, media and other areas.
“Even Formula 1 champion Sir Lewis Hamilton has sent a message praising Racing Together, which gave the team members enormous encouragement.”
The team is backed by the national governing body, Motorsport Australia, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation Gunya Meta.
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