With NAIDOC week being celebrated around the country, there are many initiatives around the country excelling year-round.
 
NAIDOC week is an Australian-wide celebration recognising the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
 
One Australian program aimed at boosting motorsport participation in the Indigenous community is the award-winning Racing Together.
 
Founded in 2020, the program is made up Indigenous youth made up of 12 to 16-year-olds who are introduced into motorsport and all the elements within, such as driver training and mechanical engineering, as well as running both karting and race programs.  
 
One of those participants is Queenslander Lincoln Taylor. 
 
Taylor is currently one of the main drivers for Racing Together’s Hyundai Excels Series campaign in the Motorsport Australia Queensland Circuit Racing Championships.
 
A promising talent behind the wheel, the 15-year-old joined Racing Together this year after being successful at the intensive two-day education and selection program in 2022, and he has enjoyed every minute in his first year. 
 
“It’s a really good program and has introduced a lot of people from the community into motorsport, as well as helping some progress through,” Taylor said.
 
“I may be in my first year, but I have already learned a lot about motorsport. Every weekend, we go down to Queensland Raceway and do workshops with the cars. 
 
“We also do training days at Norwell Motorplex, have access to mechanics who know what they’re doing, go through data training and of course, prepare and race cars. 
 
“I’ve been having a lot of fun but also learning heaps – which is a major benefit.”


While Taylor was impressed with the program overall, it’s the prospect of future opportunities for not just himself, but indigenous youth looking to make it into the sport, that make him most excited about being part of it. 
 
“Racing Together is good because it brings so many people into the sport – many of whom wouldn’t have had much of an idea beforehand,” Taylor explained.
 
“There have also been some success stories already, with one of the participants having secured a job with Shell V Power Race Team as a mechanic, and another works as a welder at Triple Eight.
 
“Stories like that give hope to many of us who want to get involved in the sport. Racing Together almost gives us a genuine career path.
 
“Even for those who have no idea how to get involved, getting accepted into the program is the easiest way to learn everything about the sport and to take advantage of multiple opportunities. 
 
“Because of programs like Racing Together, I think there are going to be more Indigenous people in the sport and it’s fantastic to see.”