2 June 2022
This year's Merlin Darwin Triple Crown, which will take place from 17-19 June 2022, is the first official Indigenous Round of the Repco Supercars Championship. To celebrate our First Nations people and pay respect to the Larrakia people on whose land the event takes place, this year's event will feature a number of special elements.
Most visible will be the Supercars liveries, which will feature indigenous artwork. The first one, the BRT team livery, is being unveiled today. Designed by Djerait (Finniss River) / Larrakia (Darwin) / Kungarakan (Litchfield National Park) artist Melissa Tipo/Yaram, the painting shows the saltwater crocodile, which represents strength, power and masculinity, balanced out by water lilies, which represent fertility, plus dots that represent the generations that have come before us. Several Australian Superbike teams have also incorporated Aboriginal artwork into their motorcycle decals or rider suits and helmets, promising a visual spectacle on-track.
This year's event will also feature two special Welcome to Country ceremonies, one at the Night Transporter Convoy on Wednesday, 15 June, and one on the grid on Sunday, 19 June. The driver/rider signing at Darwin Waterfront on Thursday, 16 June, will feature a Saltwater Ceremony by Larrakia Elder Dr Richard Fejo.
The prestigious Darwin Triple Crown trophy has been recreated as a traditional shield by Larrakia artist Trent Lee, who designed the official Indigenous Round artwork. The rest of the trophies will be didgeridoos especially handcrafted by local artists. The Australian Superbike trophies feature Trent's artwork, and Trent has designed the volunteer and officials shirts.
Three team members (a driver and two trainee mechanics) from Racing Together, a program that identifies future indigenous drivers, race team members or officials, will attend the Merlin Darwin Triple Crown. The driver will race in the Combined Sedans.
Students from the local Clontarf Foundation, a not-for-profit that helps indigenous youth through education and employment, will join the Students on Track program. Further supporting students, the Deadly Hair Dude pop-up hair salon will be on site at the Merlin Darwin Triple Crown. The program trains people in remote communities to become hairdressers, creating welcome employment opportunities.
As a lasting legacy of the first Indigenous Round, a 70m-long artwork designed by Trent Lee and Jason Lee is being painted on the Gravel Trap wall at Hidden Valley Raceway. It will feature the crocodile, a main totem for Larrakia people, which symbolises strength, patience and endurance, and a barramundi, an important Top End food source.
To secure your spot at this history-making event, visit here
Quotes from Minister for Major Events, Paul Kirby:
"The Merlin Darwin Triple Crown is already a staple on the Territory events calendar, and this year it will become something even more special, as the first official Indigenous Round of the Supercars Championship."
"The Territory is unique in Australia for its rich, living Aboriginal culture that stretches from the red dirt of the Red Centre to the tropical islands of the Top End. It is fitting the Territory is home to the Supercars Indigenous Round."
"The benefits of this event, which last year delivered an economic stimulus of $23 million to the Territory's economy, continue to grow and be felt at many different levels across our diverse community, including our First Nations community."
Quotes from Supercars CEO ,Shane Howard:
"Supercars and the NT Government, through Northern Territory Major Events Company, have a fantastic relationship and we are thrilled to be able to implement Supercars' first Indigenous Round in 2022."
"The teams have embraced this great initiative and we can't wait to see the first-ever grid filled with indigenous-themed liveries when we race at Hidden Valley in June."
Quotes from Racing Together Chairman and Co-Founder, Garry Connelly AM:
"The Indigenous Round in the Northern Territory provides a huge opportunity for us to showcase Racing Together to the national Supercars audience, as well as locals attending the event."
"Our inaugural attendance last year attracted many headlines, including coverage of the unique one-off indigenous livery our driver Braedyn Cidoni created for Dick Johnson Racing's Shell V-Power Ford Mustangs."
"We can't wait to return for another warm Territory welcome, to be part of Supercars' fantastic Merlin Darwin Triple Crown event, and to show indigenous young people what life-changing opportunities await them in the motorsport world."
Northern Territory Government
