V8 SuperUtes embraces Indigenous Round with new artwork

The Tyrepower V8 SuperUte Series has today announced its involvement in the Supercars Indigenous Round where the series and teams will adorn artwork of First Nations people at next week’s betr Darwin Triple Crown.

As the series prepares for its debut at Hidden Valley Raceway, every V8 SuperUte will feature newly designed category artwork on both front and rear windscreen banners plus the three round trophies that will feature a special one-off indigenous design for this round.

“Next week is a milestone round on many fronts for the Tyrepower V8 SuperUtes as we make our first appearance in the NT, but we’re very considerate of our paddock family and have numerous crew who are indigenous or have extended family who are. So, there was no question about wanting to take an active role in the indigenous round,” category operations manager Filippa Guarna said.

“We’ve had tremendous support from NT Major Events and our series partners in Tyrepower and Yuasa Batteries, and we’re thrilled to bring this unique opportunity to life through many indigenous artists who will be telling the stories of our teams and the land they come from.”

Designing the official series indigenous artwork on the windscreens and trophies is Sieders Racing Team crew member Steve Anderson, who hails from the Worimi Biripi region of Central NSW around Taree and Port Stephens. His father is Allan Anderson who is a Worimi elder, is the cultural advisor for NSW National Parks and Wildlife and is on the board of the Worimi Land Council.

Taking into account the artwork styles of Yarramundi in north-west Sydney where the category is based, Mr Anderson’s designs incorporate the numerous V8 SuperUtes teams (tribes) all being interconnected (via rivers) and coming together to compete in Darwin for its inaugural appearance.

The front Tyrepower windscreen banner and rear V8 SuperUtes windscreen banner feature Mr Anderson’s design of teams (concentric circle artwork) being interconnected (by rivers) and bordered by mountains (linework representing the Blue Mountains west of Sydney).

While the infamous 'bonnet' trophies feature all the V8 SuperUtes teams coming together to a centre meeting point to compete in Darwin.

“Anyone who’s been part of the V8 SuperUtes paddock knows how much we are one big family. We travel together, we compete together, we know each other’s families, and that message of bringing everyone together is an overwhelming theme in a lot of the artwork that we’ll be seeing in our paddock in Darwin,” Guarna added.

While it hasn’t been mandated for all teams to create their own unique liveries, many have in fact chosen to engage local indigenous artists to create unique V8 SuperUte artwork of which those designs will be unveiled in the coming days.

Round 2 of the Tyrepower V8 SuperUte Series heads to Darwin next week, June 14-16, as part of the betr Darwin Triple Crown as a support to the Repco Supercars Championship. Event and ticket information can be found here. All races will be broadcast on Fox Sports and Kayo.