RACING TOGETHER LAUNCHES FEMALE KART TEAM

Racing Together has announced the launch of an all-girl karting team for Indigenous Australians.

The Racing Together project was created by Formula 1 steward and Chair of the Australian Institute of Motor Sport Safety Garry Connelly to help indigenous Australians get involved in motorsport.

The team is made up of four teenage girls of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background – the first of its kind.

The quartet will contest a 10-event program in South-east Queensland in 2022, alongside Racing Together’s existing car-racing team.

Racing Together’s initial program is a 10-person team (six boys and four girls) building, maintaining, preparing and racing a Hyundai Excel in the Series X3 Queensland competition.

The karting team will field a 4SS-class Ricciardo kart, supplied and supported by Gold Coast-based international karting organisation Patrizicorse, created by former Supercars Championship driver Michael Patrizi.

Tokyo Olympics beach volleyball silver medallist Taliqua Clancy, one of Australia’s most successful Indigenous female sports personalities and a Racing Together Board member, announced the project.

“To create an opportunity especially for young Indigenous girls is a very exciting development in the Racing Together program,” Clancy said.

“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.”

Connelly announced 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.”

The team has attracted attention all around the world, not least by seven-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton.

The Mercedes driver signed a copy of AUTO ACTION’s Racing Together feature for the Indigenous Excel team several months ago.

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