Triple Eight unveils one-of-a-kind Indigenous livery

Red Bull Ampol Racing has unveiled its special Indigenous livery for this weekend’s Merlin Darwin Triple Crown.

The one-of-a-kind livery has been designed by students of the Clontarf Foundation’s Nightcliff Academy in Darwin.

The artwork features colour circles of the Aboriginal flag, and is anchored by a blue and white path through the middle of the design, which symbolised a connection to the theme of NAIDOC and new beginnings.

The Triple Eight squad has joined arch-rivals Shell V-Power Racing Team in campaigning an Indigenous livery this weekend.

Footprints and fingerprints of all Nightcliff Academy students also feature in the livery design to represent knowledge, understanding, change and power.

The special livery will run on both Jamie Whincup’s #88 and Shane van Gisbergen’s #97 Supercars this weekend.

The livery honours the 10-year-long partnership between the team’s co-naming rights partner Ampol and the Clontarf Foundation.

WATCH: NINE SEARING DARWIN MOMENTS

The Clontarf Foundation is aimed at improving the education, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men through academies across Australia, including their program at Nightcliff Middle School.

Both drivers were on hand to unveil the livery, with students also present for the unveiling.

"I know I speak for everyone at Red Bull Ampol Racing when I say that we are honoured to help celebrate the 10-year partnership between Ampol and the Clontarf Foundation through an inspiring livery designed by talented local Indigenous students," Whincup said.

“We are so proud to be racing a livery that is designed locally and hope the students are just as excited to see their design on-track as we are to be racing it."

Ampol’s Executive General Manager, Retail, Brand and Culture, Joanne Taylor, said: "We are proud of our longstanding partnership with Clontarf and are excited to celebrate this important milestone with Jamie, Shane and students from the Nightcliff Academy.

“Our partnership with Clontarf forms part of our commitment to making a positive impact on the communities in which we operate.

"Over the past 10 years, we have committed more than $5 million to Clontarf and these funds have helped support the expansion of their programs from 2,000 boys and 25 academies to now almost 10,000 boys and 131 academies.

"The artwork we see today is a striking design that perfectly symbolises the impact the Clontarf program has on the development of these young men.

"We look forward to seeing Jamie and Shane capture the spirit of Clontarf when they take to the track at Hidden Valley this weekend."

Gerard Neesham, Chief Executive Officer of the Clontarf Foundation, added: "Ampol has been with us on our journey for more than 10 years and their support has played an important role in the expansion of our programs to new states and schools.

"This is another example of a unique and rich opportunity that Ampol can offer our students to engage and to acknowledge and reward their achievements both in and out of the classroom."

The Repco Supercars Championship field will return to the Northern Territory this weekend for the Merlin Darwin Triple Crown. Tickets are available here.

The event will be broadcast live on Foxtel and will be streamed on Kayo, and will be broadcast live and free on Seven.