Covers taken off Winterbottom Indigenous livery

Team 18 has unmasked the Indigenous livery for Mark Winterbottom’s IRWIN Racing car.

Winterbottom will carry the special livery for the Merlin Darwin Triple Crown and NTI Townsville 500.

The forthcoming Darwin event will be the first ever official Indigenous Round.

The Winterbottom livery was designed by Kalkadoon artist Chern’ee Sutton.

The livery was designed in collaboration with primary car sponsors IRWIN Tools and Bunnings Warehouse.

Sutton flew from Queensland to meet Winterbottom and reveal the livery in front of guests.

Nick Moss, graphics partner Ball & Doggett and paint supplier PPG Paint brought the livery to life.

Sutton has designed a number of high-profile artworks, including the design of the NRL All Stars Indigenous Jersey.

She was also behind the artwork and story for 2018 Commonwealth Games mascot ‘Borobi’, Essendon’s 2017 'Dreamtime at the G’ guernsey and official branding for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Sutton has artwork hanging in The Royal Collection in Buckingham Palace, Queensland Parliament House and Queensland State Library.

She has previously had artworks commissioned by the likes of the Queensland Government, Tennis Australia, National Rugby League and Royal Australian Mint.

Mount Isa-born Sutton's artwork features prominently in the existing Winterbottom livery.

The large community symbol in the centre of the artwork represents the first Indigenous Round of the Supercars.

Notably, the centre of the community symbol is depicted in the shape of a Supercars wheel.

The U symbols and people around the community symbol represent the patrons who will attend the Darwin event.

The smaller community symbols represent spectators and supporters who will travel from all around Australia to watch the event.

The footprints represent the drivers and their teams travelling to the event in Darwin.

A rainbow serpent represents Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history.

It also celebrates the traditional custodians of the Darwin area, the Larrakia people.

Kangaroo and emu footprints represent how the team is always moving forwards and never backwards,.

"I’m incredibly proud and honoured to design the IRWIN Racing indigenous livery, it’s such an amazing event and very exciting to be a part of," Sutton said.

Winterbottom and Sutton with the original artwork

"I can’t wait to see the car racing around the track and the fact that Supercars have taken the extra step in using indigenous designs and artists makes me feel extremely humbled and proud to be a part of it.

"I was so overwhelmed when I saw the car in real life, the photos looked amazing but they didn’t do it justice until you see the detail of the artwork on the car itself, it’s incredible."

Winterbottom added: "I love the look of the car.

"It’s a special time of year where we get to celebrate our strong Indigenous culture in Australia which is fantastic for Supercars to be a part of.

"We’ve had a lot of detail put in this car, it looks fantastic and the story behind the artwork on the car is really cool as well, I’m honoured to represent it and hopefully I represent it well and put this car up the front!

"It was great to meet Chern’ee Sutton, she’s a very talented artist and to see the time and effort that is put into the artwork that she does and the amount of hours they spend is incredible."

Winterbottom is 14th in the standings heading to the Hidden Valley round.

The 2022 season will resume in Darwin on June 17-19. Purchase your tickets now.