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From Track to Gallery: The DART Car Rewrites the Rules of Design

This May, the Miami Design District will become the vibrant stage for a bold fusion of motorsports and contemporary art with the debut of DART Car.

Por: Alejandro Carrillo April 24, 2025

DART Car a visionary, female-led racing team on a mission to redefine the relationship between speed and creativity / Photo via Kelsey H Campbell Photography

DART Car a visionary, female-led racing team on a mission to redefine the relationship between speed and creativity. This innovative collective will launch its inaugural season with a custom McLaren Artura GT4, transformed into a rolling masterpiece by internationally celebrated artist Mickalene Thomas.

DART Car is far more than a racing team—it’s a cultural movement driven by purpose. Founded by Zoë Barry, Aurora Straus, and Spring McManus, the initiative spotlights the contributions of women in two traditionally male-dominated spaces: competitive motorsports and high-concept art.

Barry, who will be making her professional racing debut this season, and Straus, a seasoned driver, will both compete in racing suits designed by Thomas herself. These bespoke uniforms, alongside hand-painted helmets, are expressive extensions of the car’s design and the values the team stands for.

Art of acceleration

The visual centerpiece of DART Car is its stunning McLaren racecar wrapped in a dazzling original artwork by Thomas. Known for her richly layered portraits of Black women, Thomas has brought her signature style to the automotive world with a Cubist-inspired composition featuring a powerful female face.

The design incorporates bold metallic colors, zebra patterns, glitter, and Benday dots—elements that speak to the layered identity of women and the strength within. The car doesn’t just race—it makes a statement.

The official unveiling took place on February 18 at Classic Car Club Manhattan, marking a thrilling new chapter in motorsport history. Fans and art lovers in Miami will get a closer look at this collaboration on May 2 at The Moore and from May 3–4 in Paradise Plaza. These events will showcase DART Car as more than a sports machine—it is a canvas on wheels, a symbol of progress and empowerment.

Bold aesthetic

The team made its racing debut at the SRO GT4 America Series at Sonoma Raceway, scheduled for March 28–30, 2025. DART Car’s competitive season will conclude in January 2026 at the 24H Series Middle East Trophy in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where they’ll break ground as the first all-female-led team to participate in that prestigious event.

Backing this pioneering team are a number of influential partners, including Commence Haircare by Brooke Shields, Sabelt North America, P1 Motor Club, and CART Department. With their support, DART Car becomes the first motorsports initiative to blend female artistic voices and racing talent into one high-performance, visually unforgettable endeavor.

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Una publicación compartida por Driven Artists Racing Team (@dartcarproject)

By uniting the velocity of sport with the impact of contemporary visual art, DART Car is rewriting the rules of the track—and culture. It’s not just a car or a competition; it’s a revolution rolling on four wheels.

Key information

Who is the artist behind the DART Car design? Mickalene Thomas.
What kind of car is used by DART Car? A McLaren Artura GT4.
Where and when will the car be displayed in Miami? May 2 at The Moore and May 3–4 at Paradise Plaza.
What makes DART Car unique in motorsports? It’s an all-female-led team combining racing with contemporary art