Indigenous designs on V8 team reach top gear

AN Aboriginal co-op is trying its hand at launching a V8 Supercar team, backed by Kelly Brothers Racing.

Steve Portelli

AN Aboriginal co-op is trying its hand at launching a V8 Supercar team, backed by Kelly Brothers Racing. Kelly Brothers, one of Australia's most successful teams, will join forces with the Mildura Aboriginal Corporation Incorporated to launch Dreamtime Racing in the V8 Supercar development series.

The move is an Australian first, the team offering several apprenticeships to young indigenous people in areas ranging from engineering to marketing. The team will field two cars in the Dunlop series starting next weekend in Adelaide, the cars to be painted in a traditional tribal livery. Running in the development series costs between $750,000 and $1 million a car.

The idea is the brainchild of Kelly Racing chief executive John Crennan, who said the team would stand on its own, seeking its own sponsorship, and would not rely on government handouts. "This is a 50/50 venture and will have two Aboriginal directors and we want to get corporate support from companies who see Aboriginal issues as important," Crennan said. "There are three key elements we want to deliver on and the first and foremost is the training and development of young men and women."

The team will take on 12 indigenous apprentices who will move to Melbourne and work with the team full-time. At the same time, groups of four "guest helpers" will be drawn from indigenous communities to attend each round of the competition. Indigenous artists will be invited to submit car designs.

"I would hope it would generate sufficient funding to raise the profile of what we are doing and I think this is one team that everyone will want to support," said Crennan.

While Kelly Brothers' main V8 team is sponsored by Jack Daniels, Dreamtime Racing will be a separate company with Kelly providing technical support.

Steve Portelli, a director of the Mildura co-operative, said there had been debate within the group, but the project was seen as a perfect way to showcase Aboriginal art and to open up job opportunities for young indigenous men and women.

The team will support a national road and and driver-safety program aimed at indigenous youths. "Also we definitely are aiming for people to see an Aboriginal face when the driver peels the helmet off," Portelli said. "We want corporate Australia to back an Aboriginal product people can be proud of."

Team drivers include V8 veteran David Russell, out to win his first development series championship after finishing third last year, and Mildura native Cameron Waters, who last year became the youngest driver to compete at Bathurst.