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Bathurst billionaires - the money behind Australia’s most expensive sport

JETTING into Bathurst from around the country and the world, these are the movers and shakers behind Australia’s most expensive sport.

Betty Klimenko team owner of Erebus Penrite Racing celebrates Dave Reynolds taking pole position in the top 10 shootout. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
Betty Klimenko team owner of Erebus Penrite Racing celebrates Dave Reynolds taking pole position in the top 10 shootout. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

MEET the Bathurst billionaires and multi-millionaires – the movers and shakers with a Mount Panorama dream.

Jetting in from LA, Monaco and one driving from Vaucluse, they are the money behind the Bathurst 1000 bid.

These are the richest people in Australia’s most expensive sport.

Roger Penske at Mount Panorama today for the Bathurst 1000. Picture: Tim Hunter.
Roger Penske at Mount Panorama today for the Bathurst 1000. Picture: Tim Hunter.

ROGER PENSKE – DJR/TEAM PENSKE

THE OWNER of Penske Corporation, the “Captain’’ has an estimated net worth of $1.7 billion USD. A racing enthusiast who owns both NASCAR and INDY Car teams, Penske bought a part share in iconic Australian V8 team Dick Johnson Racing in 2016. Beginning his US empire with a car dealership, Penske’s businesses generate more than $US22 billion a year and he employs almost 50,000 people. The university drop out is a corporate director at General Electric and a previous home depot and Super Bowl board member.

Betty Klimenko team owner of Erebus Penrite Racing celebrates Dave Reynolds taking pole position in the top 10 shootout. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
Betty Klimenko team owner of Erebus Penrite Racing celebrates Dave Reynolds taking pole position in the top 10 shootout. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)

BETTY KLIMENKO – EREBUS MOTORSPORT

THE heiress to the Westfield shopping centre empire, Klimenko is the daughter of Westfield’s group co-founder John Saunders. Klimenko’s family fortune was estimate by BRW to be $960 million in 2013 with her family coming in at No.12 on the Australian rich list. Klimenko is the owner of the reigning Bathurst winning team Erebus Motorsport.

Co-Owner of the Walkinshaw Andretti United Racing Team, Ryan Walkinshaw, at Mount Panorama. Picture: Tim Hunter.
Co-Owner of the Walkinshaw Andretti United Racing Team, Ryan Walkinshaw, at Mount Panorama. Picture: Tim Hunter.

RYAN WALKINSHAW – WALKINSHAW ANDRETTI UNITED

THE heir to the Holden Special Vehicles (HSV) empire, Walkinshaw lives in Monaco and works around the globe. The co-owner of Walkinshaw Andretti United, the UK born and raised business man also has a residence in Melbourne. The boss of the company famous for the HSV GTS, Walkinshaw has just re-engineered the Chevrolet Camaro for the Australian market. His race team, formerly known as the Holden Racing Team, is one of the most famous and successful in the sport.

Michael Andretti enjoying the action at Mt Panorama. Picture: Tim Hunter.
Michael Andretti enjoying the action at Mt Panorama. Picture: Tim Hunter.

MICHAEL ANDRETTI – WALKINSHAW ANDRETTI UNITED

ONE of the biggest names in US motorsport, Andretti is a former world Indy Car champion and one of the most successful open wheeled driver’s in US history. The son of racing legend Mario, Andretti’s has amassed an estimated personal wealth of $US40 million US through his company Andretti Autorsport. Andretti last year became a co-owner of Supercar’s team Walkinshaw Andretti Racing.

Roland Dane is the brains behind the Red Bull Holden Racing Team. Picture: Tim Hunter.
Roland Dane is the brains behind the Red Bull Holden Racing Team. Picture: Tim Hunter.

ROLAND DANE – RED BULL HOLDEN RACING TEAM

THE owner of engineering business Triple Eight Race Engineering, Dane is both the brains and the money behind the all-conquering Red Bull Holden Racing Team. The Irishman has business interests across the globe, including hotels and restaurants in Thailand, and operates Australia’s most profitable race engineering business. Dane is highly guarded about the extent of his wealth but it is widely believed he is one of the wealthiest men in the V8 pit-lane.

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/motor-sport/v8-supercars/bathurst-billionaires-the-money-behind-australias-most-expensive-sport/news-story/3017becf7fc9d5f005d7971774aa8fab