The innovative Racing Together program has been shortlisted as a finalist for the FIA President’s Awards.
One of nine global programs nominated, the prestigious award is recognition of the program’s success in the diversity and inclusion space.
The FIA President’s Awards were created to honour the FIA Member Clubs whose commitment brings sustainable and measurable change within the FIA community and society at large.
The Awards celebrate outstanding contributions in the fields of Climate Action, Road Safety, and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. The FIA received 51 applications from all regions of the world, out of which 9 were shortlisted, including Racing Together.
Racing Together was one of three programs nominated for the 2022 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award, alongside the Bahamas Motor Sports Association’s EduKarting program and Deutscher Motor Sport Bund’s (Germany’s ASN) United in Dreams initiative.
The program, developed by Monique and Garry Connelly, was selected as a finalist for “opening motorsport to the Indigenous population of Australia, who previously saw this sport as not financially nor socially accessible to them”. Highlighting its success, of the ten initial members of the Racing Together team – six boys and four girls – three have already achieved full-time jobs in the industry.
Motorsport Australia CEO Eugene Arocca congratulated all those involved in the program’s success to date.
“The Racing Together program is already a winner in our eyes and both Monique and Garry Connelly should be proud of what has been achieved in such a short time,” Arocca said.
“Motorsport Australia is a proud supporter of Racing Together and with good reason – it is clearly having an impact and creating amazing opportunities that may not have otherwise been possible.
“On behalf of everyone at Motorsport Australia, we congratulate all of the finalists."
Click here to read about all finalists for the FIA President’s Awards.
The winner of the 2022 FIA President’s Awards will be announced at the FIA Prize Giving Ceremony in Bologna, Italy on 10 December.