Goanna art to speed up Supercars round

A car at this weekends’s Supercars Indigenous Round in Darwin will feature a goanna artwork on its bonnet, designed by a woman from the edge of the Western Dessert in Western Australia.

Monica Taylor, a Badimia Yamatji woman from Mount Magnet, wills her iconic image displayed on the Walkinshaw Andretti United’s Ford Mustangs at the event.

According to the team, the artwork on both its #2 Ryan Wood and #25 Chaz Mostert Mustangs represents the team’s core values of family, trust and loyalty to each other.

“At the heart of the design is the Australian goanna which holds incredible importance for many Indigenous Australians,” the WAU team said.

“Known for their speed, the goanna symbolises the fast Walkinshaw Andretti United Supercars.

“The artwork tells the story of the different tribes tracking the goanna, following its footprints in the sand to their burrows, where the animal would be dug out, cooked on the coal and shared with their family members.

“Highlighting the importance of family and teamwork, much like the collaboration required by each WAU team member in the pursuit of race wins and championships.

“Monica was lucky enough to have witnessed this with her grandmother when she was a young girl.”

Ms Taylor told media the chance to be involved with the Supercars team was an honour.

“Being asked to create this artwork for the Walkinshaw family was a real honour, not just for myself and my artwork but for my whole family,” she said.

“I have 16 grandchildren and for them to be able to see their Nanna’s artwork racing around the country gives them inspiration and shows them that they can achieve anything they put their mind to.

“Showcasing Indigenous art alongside cultural knowledge through the Indigenous round for the V8s shows a place of acceptance for all of us and I am proud to of designed artwork for such a great company like Walkinshaw Andretti United who’s values align with mine around family, acceptance and knowledge sharing.”

Meanwhile, Brad Jones Racing has unveiled their final three liveries for the Indigenous Round.

BJR worked with Indigenous communities and teamed with James Fallon High School’s Stars Foundation program, supporting young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls in reaching their full potential.

The collaboration produced more than 20 community-centred original designs, from which select pieces were adapted to the R&J Batteries, Middy’s, and Pizza Hut Camaros.

At the heart of the designs is this year’s NAIDOC theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.”