Penrite Racing reveals dual Indigenous liveries

Penrite-backed Supercars and Superbikes will carry Indigenous artwork at the upcoming Merlin Darwin Triple Crown.

Supercars team Penrite Racing and Australian Superbike squad Penrite Honda Racing uncovered the look on Tuesday.

Supercars and Superbikes will share Hidden Valley Raceway next weekend.

Penrite Racing has joined CoolDrive Racing and Brad Jones Racing in revealing Indigenous liveries.

The striking artwork was designed by Darwin-born Indigenous artist Lorraine Kabbindi White.

She is also Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS) Boarding House Manager, with MITS a team partner.

The story depicted within the livery is based on Kabbindi’s artworks ‘The First Bees’ and the ‘Freshwater Mermaids’.

The three different colours each represent the bees named Kubbulak, Kardderre and Nabiwu.

Kubbulak belongs to the mardku moiety, and Kardderre and Nabiwu belong to ngarradjku moiety.

The artwork captures their first flight out of their human bodies.

Kabbindi used natural pigments all sourced from her family’s Mok Clan, Ankung Djang (Sugar bag dreaming) estate on the upper Liverpool River, Arnhem Land, NT.

Her artworks have been brought to life by Peter Hughes and Tim Pattinson, in conjunction with PPG, Graphic Art Mart and Mac Tac.

Supercars drivers David Reynolds, Lee Holdsworth and ASBK rider Troy Herfoss visited MITS students in their classroom last week.

There, the trio engaged with students about motorsport and the upcoming Indigenous Round in Darwin.

MITS alumni later visited the Penrite Racing workshop to get a closer look at the special livery.

"I love the Indigenous Round concept. We’re celebrating the oldest living culture in the world which is very cool,” Reynolds said.

"My partner has rich Indigenous heritage and is from Darwin so this round has special significance for me.

"It was also good to give the MITS students a look an insight into our world at the workshop.

Herfoss, who will make his 100th start, added: "It’s really cool to be supporting the Indigenous round and aligning ourselves with Penrite Racing's Supercars team again.

"It was a lot of fun spending the day with Lee, Dave and the team in Melbourne during our visit to MITS.

"Partnering with the school and connecting to an organisation that supports young Aboriginal people from regional Victoria and the Darwin region who want to access education in Melbourne has been great and I am proud our teams are supporting this.

"I'm also looking forward to showing off the new livery of course."

MITS Executive Director, Edward Tudor, said: "We are delighted to be partnering with the team at Penrite Racing for this year’s Indigenous Round.

"It is very special to be celebrating our wonderful students, their communities and their cultures while racing on Larrakia Country.

"The generosity the Penrite team have shown MITS and our students has been greatly appreciated."

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