Arrow McLaren SP and Vuse have unveiled the design that won the Vuse Design Challenge and will be featured on both the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet and the No. 7 Vuse Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet at the inaugural Big Machine Music City Grand Prix on Aug. 6-8 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Longtime Arrow McLaren SP fan Jack LaPilusa of Astoria, New York, submitted the winning entry to the Vuse Design Challenge, drawing his design inspiration from World War I dazzle camouflage for his unique livery.
“Winning the Vuse Design Challenge has me feeling on top of the world,” LaPilusa said. “Knowing my design will be racing around Nashville, representing such a prestigious racing team, is a special and surreal feeling. I studied dozens of different prototype car camouflages, which manufacturers use to hide their upcoming models, and created patterns inspired by some of the more iconic designs. Then I gave it a color combination that McLaren fans – and New Yorkers such as myself – will know and love. The car might be ‘camouflaged,’ but I'm certain you'll see it coming.”
The design features each car’s signature colors, with the No. 5 Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet featuring papaya and black, while the No. 7 Vuse Arrow McLaren SP Chevrolet will sport papaya and cobalt blue.
“Jack’s design is brilliant and really speaks to what we try to achieve as a design team for our race cars at McLaren Racing,” said Louise McEwen, director of brand & creative, McLaren Racing. “A design has to be disruptive and stand out, and this does exactly that across the No. 5 and No. 7 car. It’s been a pleasure to be part of the Vuse Design Challenge alongside the other judges and be a witness to this great opportunity for a fan to bring their talent and creativity to the Arrow McLaren SP team.”
LaPilusa’s design was selected from hundreds of entries in the Vuse Design Challenge, with the judges feeling it was a perfect fit for the team. As the winner, he will also receive $10,000 in prize money and a VIP experience at the race in Nashville, which will allow him to see his artwork take to the streets for the first time at the first Big Machine Music City Grand Prix at 5:30 p.m. (ET) Sunday, Aug. 8 on NBCSN.
Arrow McLaren SP and Vuse have shown their shared passion for art and ingenuity throughout this NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, featuring several collaborations with local artists, including during race weekends in St. Petersburg, Fort Worth and Indianapolis. Each artist created their unique design, brought to life during a live painting of a race car on display.