The Shell V-Power Racing Team has revealed their new livery for the first Indigenous Round at the Darwin Triple Crown following the success of the Team’s 2021 Indigenous livery. The livery is dedicated to the ancient culture of Australian First Nations communities and celebrates the honour of the Elders on a world stage.

The Shell V-Power Racing Team will carry the special design which represents a ‘Community of Communities’ at the Darwin Triple Crown, and also during NAIDOC Week, which coincides with the Townsville 500 round.

The Shell V-Power Racing Team partnered with Bayila Creative to collaborate on this magnificent work. The lead artist, Dixon Patten (Bitja), is a proud Yorta Yorta, Gunnai, Gunditjmara, Yuin, Jaithmathang, and Wiradjuri man and his artistic practice is informed by the strong cultural values his family and community have imprinted into his mind, heart and spirit. Bayila Creative worked closely with Viva Energy Australia on a bespoke artwork to celebrate the launch of their first Reconciliation Action Plan.

This year’s livery, a ‘Community of Communities’, was designed with five meanings:

• The U shape symbols represent the old people gathering to eat, connect, and reflect, leaving traces of midden shells. These sites connect and represents our place in history.
• The ripples show how everything influences everything else – all the intersections of life. We are all noteworthy to the fabric of time and space, every single thing is connected from a macro and micro level.
• The assorted markings and patterns depict the diversity of cultures and honours their cultural lore. Our Countries: which include land, water, sky and animals are our biggest teachers, they told us what we needed to know about how to survive and thrive; by observing the seasons and cycles of life, meant we knew how to live sustainably and harmoniously.
• The gum leaves represent our human family tree, we are all custodians of mother earth, and it is our collective duty to Care for Country. This can only be done through authentic connection, intentional communication and understanding.
• The dots and elliptical patterns show the transference of knowledge from one generation to the next; we obtain our wisdom through deep listening, and retain it with an open mind and heart.

Dick Johnson Racing (DJR) Executive Chairman and co-owner Ryan Story said he is excited to be carrying Patten’s design for the first Indigenous Round in Darwin.

“Last year’s Darwin event was a privilege to take part in with our livery design and a historic moment for Supercars. Now, to be able to work with Dixon and tell his artistic story via the Shell V-Power Racing Team Ford Mustang GTs is something we are incredibly proud of and can’t wait to showcase during the Indigenous Round.

“To be supported by our partners on this project and work with Viva Energy Australia on such an important initiative is very special. The livery design is not only symbolic to Bayila Creative and First Nations community, but to every member of our team.”

Dixon Patten (Bitja) said, “I am passionate about storytelling in all its forms and to be able to create a bespoke design for the Shell V-Power Racing Team in conjunction with Viva Energy Australia for the first Indigenous Round within the Supercars Championship is something I am very proud of.”

“The design I created honours the ancient culture of Australian First Nations communities and at its core is about a community of communities.”

Megan Foster, Executive General Manager – Consumer, Viva Energy Australia (Shell Licensee) said, “Viva Energy Australia worked with Bayila Creative to create the bespoke artwork for our first Reconciliation Action Plan so it made perfect sense to collaborate together again to create this year’s Indigenous livery for the Darwin event and also for Townsville, where the race coincides with NAIDOC Week.

“We saw how much people loved the Indigenous livery design in 2021 and we are proud to continue to showcase brilliant designers and their important storytelling on a national and international stage.”