Team 18 reveals fan-inspired Darwin livery
Team 18 has uncovered a fan-inspired Indigenous livery for Mark Winterbottom’s #18 DEWALT Racing Camaro.
Winterbottom will carry the striking look for the betr Darwin Triple Crown and the NTI Townsville 500.
The #18 Camaro will carry the artwork of Kalkadoon artist Chern’ee Sutton, in collaboration with DEWALT and Stanley Black & Decker.
Sutton designed the artwork for Winterbottom’s Supercar for the inaugural Supercars Indigenous Round last year.
In the 12 months since, she has designed the official branding for the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup, and a commemorative coin for the Queensland Government House.
Sutton drew themes from her 2022 livery design as well as the passion of the fans, given she attended last year’s Townsville round.
The feature of the design is a sun with the community symbol in the centre, which represents the wheels.
The yellow sun rays symbolise the race tracks and circuits in Supercars.
The artwork also highlights white lines, which are travelling lines that represent the communities and regions that Team 18 travels to.
Kangaroo and emu footprints symbolise the drivers and racing teams always moving forwards, never backwards.
A handprint also represents the traditional custodians of the land, a boomerang signifies the teams and their supporters, and the dots symbolise the spectators and supporters.
The livery was brought to life by graphic designer Nick Moss, paint partner PPG and graphic design partners Ball & Doggett.
Bundaberg-based Sutton flew to Melbourne to meet with Winterbottom and DEWALT and Stanley Black & Decker executives to reveal the livery.
“The DEWALT Racing Supercar looks absolutely amazing in its Indigenous round colour scheme,” Sutton said.
"Team 18 has done an amazing job to bring my artwork to life and I can’t wait to see it racing on track in Darwin.
“I feel incredibly proud to be involved again. I never thought I’d ever see my artwork on a race car, and now I get to do it two years in a row.
“That's an incredibly special feeling for me and the Indigenous round is something that I'm really honoured to be a part of again.
"It's such an important round and it puts a lot of our artists in the spotlight with all the amazing artwork on the liveries for all the teams."
Winterbottom added: "The car looks fantastic.
"We're very lucky that Chern’ee takes the time and puts the effort into doing what she does, and it's an absolute piece of art, but also the story behind it is amazing.
“I really enjoy that because obviously when people see the car, they see it for what it is, but the story behind it is so much more than the colours and the design.
“I’m honoured to represent it and she's very proud of her history and heritage, so to put it on the car means a lot to her, and that means a lot to me to represent."
Matt Francis, Stanley Black & Decker Brand Partnerships & Activation Manager, said: “The DEWALT team are thrilled to be working with Chern’ee once more as one of Australia premier indigenous artists.
"Not only does Chern’ee’s artwork stand out on its own, but the meaning behind each of the individual elements, and the way it has been brought to life and incorporated on the #18 Camaro by Team 18 and Nick Moss Design creates a very impactful statement.
“We are looking forward to taking this livery and sharing it with the Darwin and Townsville communities over the next two rounds of the Supercars.”
