Penrite Ford, Honda Indigenous liveries revealed
Penrite Racing and Penrite Honda Racing have revealed coordinating liveries for next week's betr Darwin Triple Crown at a spectacular launch event.
Both Penrite Racing Ford Mustangs and a Penrite Honda were on show at the event held in Melbourne’s CBD on Thursday.
Australian Superbikes are sharing the June 16-18 event with the Repco Supercars Championship.
The liveries were revealed on Friday, with the livery artwork projected on the venue walls and floor at the launch.
Penrite Racing drivers David Reynolds, Matt Payne and Garth Tander were joined by Stephen Grove, Brenton Grove and David Cauchi.
Reynolds and Payne also revealed their Indigenous drivers suits which mirror the designs on their cars.
Australian Superbike driver Troy Herfoss was also on hand to reveal his coordinating bike livery.
The livery was inspired by Lorraine Kabbindi White, in collaboration with team partner Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS).
MITS a Year 7-8 transition school on Wurundjeri Country that supports Indigenous students from remote and regional communities in the NT and Victoria to live and study in Melbourne.
Along with MITS students, Payne unveiled his #19 Ford with Stephen Grove, with Reynolds and MITS Director Katrina Penfold unveiling the #26 Mustang.
Kabbindi White’s livery design features two pieces of artwork — the first is Modjarrki - Freshwater Crocodile and the second, Ankung Kunred - Wild Honey Country.
Ankung Kunred - Wild Honey Country depicts her homeland, the Mok clan's estate — Ankung kunred — which extends over the upper catchment of the Liverpool River.
Modjarrki - Freshwater Crocodile is centred on the long nosed crocodile, which don’t bite people.
The livery was produced via paint supplier PPG and vinyl partners Graphic Art Mart and Mac Tac.
Penrite Racing has also set up an auction site with items such as the race-worn Darwin suits, hot laps and a corporate jet experience. The team raised $44,000 last year, which provided funding for three student scholarships.
“It is fantastic to launch this livery among our partners, the Grove family and MITS,” Team Principal Cauchi said.
"We are supporting MITS again this year and to see Lorraine’s artwork on our Penrite Mustangs is something quite special. I think they look awesome, and I am looking forward to seeing them racing at Hidden Valley."
Reynolds added: "It is fantastic that the team are working with MITS again, and to have the liveries launched in this way is something special.
"I think they look amazing, and our suits match the cars this year as well as Troy Herfoss’ bike, so it is a lovely way to showcase the beautiful artwork created by Lorraine and celebrate the Indigenous culture."
Payne said: “I think they look absolutely awesome especially in this setting [at the launch] with the art projected on the walls and floor.
"I am excited to get to Darwin for the Triple Crown and do the team and MITS proud on track. It is great what the team and Penrite Honda Racing are doing to support MITS.
“They do such awesome work and hopefully we can raise some money for them through the auction.”
Edward Tudor, MITS CEO, said: “The partnership with Grove/Penrite Racing is one which we are very proud of here at MITS and we are delighted to be partnering with them again in 2023.
"This is now the second year that Penrite/Grove have partnered with MITS, after an enormously successful campaign in 2022, which raised an incredible $40,000 for our school.
"To put this into perspective, this supports three young students to attend our school and boarding program for a year."
Tickets for the betr Darwin Triple Crown are on sale now.
