The future looks bright for one of the country’s emerging racing teams, following a string of recent successes and results in 2025.

Racing Together, co-founded by Monique and Garry Connelly AM, is enjoying a strong run of form over the past few months, setting the stage for a successful second half of the year.

In May, the Racing Together team compiled three podium finishes in the third round of the Toyota 86 Scholarship Series at their home track of Norwell Motorplex, meanwhile driver Kade Davey secured his maiden victory in the series at Morgan Park Raceway in June.

Garry said the results on the track have been nothing but exceptional in 2025, but emphasised Racing Together is not just results-oriented – it is more than that.

“From a competition results perspective, 2024 and 2025 have been great years for Racing Together, however our greatest achievements have really come over the last four years, with many of our inaugural intake obtaining employment,” Connelly said.

“Many of them are involved now in motorsport or the wider automotive industry.  Whilst we are tremendously happy and excited about the on-track results, our main objective is to teach our members the skills to secure them employment in the future.”

Racing Together proudly wears the mantle of Australia’s first motorsport team dedicated to providing a structured pathway for young Indigenous talents on and off the track.

Leading the team of talented racers are 17-year-old Kade Davey, the first Indigenous Australian to be leading a national motor racing series (the Toyota 86 Scholarship Series) and 18-year-old Karlai Warner.

Davey, originally from Western Australia and a proud Martu Manyjilyjarra man, moved across the country to Queensland with his mother Anita, father Todd and two siblings when the opportunity arose to join the Racing Together team. Davey began racing at eight years of age and developed his skills through the Australian Karting Championship.

He sees the biggest benefit the program being how it provides young Indigenous members with job opportunities in motorsport.

“Being in the team for a year and a half now, seeing people like Braedyn Cidoni becoming a fabricator for Triple Eight Race Engineering and also some young mechanics coming through the ranks has been really positive.” Davey said.

“In addition to the fun we have racing, it’s also fantastic to network within the industry as everyone in the team tries to achieve their goals.”

With NAIDOC Week running from 6-13 July, Connelly noted it was an important week on the calendar for Racing Together, given the team’s strong connection to Aboriginal and First Nations heritage.

“NAIDOC Week is a very significant time for all those involved in Racing Together and we are proud to be celebrating with the team racing in Townsville in the first round of the 86 GR Cup as part of the Supercars Round,” Connelly added.

Racing Together also formed a new chapter of the team in Townsville two years ago, where it is now hopeful to see another expansion into the Northern Territory.

The team wants to keep pushing for more First Nations youths to participate in motorsport and to find a career in it either on or off the track.

For more information about the program, head to the Racing Together website.