Three women from the worlds of racing, entrepreneurship, and art have teamed up to challenge long-standing norms in both motorsport and contemporary art. Award-winning professional racecar driver Aurora Straus, entrepreneur Zoë Barry, and art advisor Spring McManus have launched the Driven Artists Racing Team—better known as DART Car—a female-led project that merges high-performance racing with fine art. At the heart of this innovative project is acclaimed contemporary artist Mickalene Thomas, who designed the custom wraps for DART Car’s racecars, as well as bespoke driving suits and hand-painted helmets for Straus and Barry, who are making their professional debut this season. With every brushstroke and every lap, DART Car isn’t just making history—it’s painting a new road forward. The custom-designed vehicle will be on view in the Miami Design District—with the team’s unveiling taking place at The Moore on May 2, followed by Paradise Plaza on May 3–4, 2025, during Formula 1 Weekend.
“With DART Car, we’re not just racing—we’re changing the narrative,” said Zoë Barry, co-founder. “We’re giving women the opportunity to rise above and shift the focus to underrepresented, yet immensely talented, individuals in both art and racing. Our partnership with Mickalene Thomas is a perfect example of the power of collaboration, and we can’t wait to see our history-making car hit the track.”
DART Car made its official debut at the Classic Car Club Manhattan on Tuesday, February 18, 2025. The racecar, a McLaren Artura GT4, will compete in its first race of the 2024 season at Sonoma Raceway for the SRO GT4 America from March 28–30, 2025. The team will close out its season at the prestigious 24H Series Middle East Trophy, scheduled for January 2026 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where they will make history as the first all-female-led team in the series.
The racing industry has traditionally been skewed toward male participation, with women representing just 4% of the top drivers, a number that has increased from 1.5% in recent years. Similarly, only 3.3% of global auction sales in 2022 came from works by female artists, according to the Burns Halperin report. DART Car is working to change these statistics by pairing talented female artists with race competitors to create high-performance art cars for some of the world’s most prestigious events. Inspired by the BMW Art Car legacy, DART Car is the first initiative to unite contemporary female artists with competitive racing in this unique way.
“As a female driver, I know how challenging it can be to break through in this industry,” said Aurora Straus, veteran racer and co-founder. “DART Car is not just about racing—it’s about proving that women can compete against anyone, anywhere, on equal footing.”
DART Car’s advocacy program aims to amplify the impact of women in motorsports, offering an annual commissioning program to spotlight leading female artists and fund the creation of high-impact racing art.
Art advisor Spring McManus noted, “This is about much more than racing—it’s about inspiring women to chase their dreams, break barriers, and set new standards in every field, from motorsports to the arts.”
Mickalene Thomas shared her excitement about the project: “This collaboration with DART Car is a powerful fusion of art, speed, and female empowerment. It’s an honor to be part of this trailblazing project that challenges stereotypes and redefines what power, beauty, and creativity can look like.”
Mickalene Thomas’ artwork for DART Car will feature a Cubist-inspired portrait of a woman’s face, incorporating bold colors, glitter, zebra print, and Benday dots. These elements reflect the complexities of femininity, making a bold statement on both the race track and the art world.
DART Car is proud to have the support of key sponsors, including Commence Haircare by Brooke Shields, Sabelt North America, P1 Motor Club, and CART Department.
With every turn and every design, DART Car is paving a path to redefine what’s possible in both racing and art.
