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PHOTOS: Clockwise from top-left – Ayesha Burke (mechanic), Karlai Warner (driver), Taliqua Clancy (Olympian), Lance McCallum MP, Amber Rahurahu (mechanic); Racing Together’s Ricciardo kart and Hyundai Excel; Amber Rahurahu, Ayesha Burke, Trent Mercer (Patrizicorse Team Manager); Karlai Warner in her Ricciardo kart at Norwell Motorplex;(Credit all images – Carina Napier)
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STORY:
THE ground-breaking Racing Together project to involve Australian Indigenous teenagers in motorsport is taking another major step forward with the launch today of a new all-girl karting team.
The team of four teenage girls of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background – the first of its kind – will contest a 10-event program in South-east Queensland in 2022, alongside Racing Together’s existing car-racing team.
It will field a 4SS-class Ricciardo kart supplied and supported by Gold Coast-based international karting organisation Patrizicorse.
The unique project was announced by Tokyo Olympics beach volleyball Silver medalist Taliqua Clancy, one of Australia’s most successful Indigenous female sports personalities and a Racing Together Board member.
“To create an opportunity especially for young Indigenous girls is a very exciting development in the Racing Together program,” Clancy said at the team’s Norwell Motorplex headquarters on the northern Gold Coast.
“We don’t believe anything like this has been done anywhere in the world and as an Indigenous sports person I’m delighted to give it my full support and will take a keen interest when the girls hit the track next season.”
The not-for-profit Racing Together project was founded late last year by international motorsport identities Garry and Monique Connelly, who recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were virtually unrepresented in racing. Garry Connelly is Australia’s representative on the world governing body, the FIA, and Permanent Chair of the Stewards for the FIA Formula 1 World Championship.
An initial intake of six boys and four girls of high-school age has spent the 2021 season building, maintaining, preparing and racing a Hyundai Excel in the Series X3 Queensland competition at Morgan Park Raceway.
The team has attracted widespread support, including from seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton, who encouraged the teenagers to follow their dreams. The Australian distributor of Shell fuels and oils, Viva Energy, has committed to a three-year program to expand Racing Together to other States.
Mr Connelly said the four kart team members would be Karlai Warner (driver), Ayesha Burke (mechanic), Amber Rahurahu (mechanic) and Tayla Warner (tyres, data and logistics).
“Despite being completely new to motor-racing at the beginning of the year, the girls have shown tremendous dedication and aptitude and have thoroughly earned this new opportunity,” he said.
“Karlai has just turned 15. The karting will prepare her for car-racing and we intend for her to race a second Hyundai during next year.
“We’ll hold an open day next February to recruit some new team members – hopefully including another female driver for 2023 – and continue the growth of Racing Together.”
Mr Connelly thanked Patrizicorse owner Michael Patrizi and the national administrative body Karting Australia for their contributions to the new team.
Racing Together is based at Norwell Motorplex and is supported by local Indigenous Group Gunya Meta and Motorsport Australia.
For media enquiries please contact:
Chris Nixon, mobile +61 418 759 417
For Racing Together enquiries please contact:
Tel. 07 3392 3022, [email protected], www.racingtogether.org
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