Brodie Kostecki’s Supercars return triggers sponsorship walkout amid bullying claims

Brodie Kostecki’s stunning Supercars return for Erebus Motorsport has triggered one final twist in the bitter battle that has dominated the sport this season.

The sponsorship fallout from the Brodie Kostecki saga has taken another twist.

His long-time backer Peter Adderton has threatened to end all his global motorsport involvement after he was left “disappointed and sad” by the Supercars champion’s impending return to Erebus Motorsport.

After Erebus announced on Monday that Kostecki would make a shock return to the Supercars grid in Taupo next week for the first time this season, Adderton said he had been frozen out of the driver’s racing comeback.

A long-time personal sponsor of Kostecki, the Boost Mobile founder, who has staunchly supported the defending V8 champion during his absence from the grid, said Erebus “demanded” Kostecki remove branding from his helmet of sponsors who had backed him during his stand-off with the team as a “condition” of his return to race.

Erebus Motorsport declined to comment when asked to respond to Adderton’s claims.

“I will always shoot straight,” Adderton wrote on social media.

Boost Mobile founder and global telco entrepreneur Peter Adderton. Picture: Supplied,

“For those who are asking, yes, I got a call from Brodie …. telling me he was going back to Erebus and one of the conditions was (team owner) Betty (Klimenko) demanded he remove all Boost Mobile Australia and other sponsors who supported him from his helmet.

“We are disappointed and sad after all the years of support we gave Brodie and felt he would have said no but he clearly didn’t and that’s for Brodie to say why, not me.

“We live and we learn. I guess the ‘Let Brodie Race’ T-shirts (at the season-opening Bathurst 500) worked. Funny how bullying was at the centre of the whole Brodie, Erebus Motorsport drama and making it a condition to remove us or you can’t race. Go figure.”

Brodie Kostecki’s return to Supercars driving has taken another twist. Picture: Getty

Erebus Motorsport chief executive Barry Ryan defended his character during an emotional television interview before the opening race of the season.

Ryan said he was “not a bully” when he and Klimenko responded to the Kostecki drama.

Adderton’s Boost Mobile brand also sponsors the Supercars pole award and has backed other drivers personally, including former series champion James Courtney.

Kostecki’s Richard Childress Racing NASCAR entry for his Cup Series debut at Indianapolis last year also carried Adderton’s MobileX branding.

Now, Adderton has pledged to withdraw his motorsport involvement around the world in the wake of the latest Kostecki twist.

“Taking a pause from motorsport globally,” Adderton said on social media.

“This will be the last time I talk or sponsor motorsport, Nascar, Indy, Supercross, Supercars, teams or drivers.

“Been fun, thanks for following along. I tried to make a difference, I tried to make the sport better for the fans.”

Adderton has pledged to withdraw his sponsorship from motorsport globally. Source: Supplied.

Supercars said on Tuesday it had not heard from Adderton regarding his series involvement.

Adderton’s revelations are the latest sponsorship fallout from the Kostecki-Erebus saga.

The championship-winning team also lost three key sponsors from last season, including title sponsor Coca-Cola, in the wake of the drama.

After Kostecki missed the first two rounds of the championship, Erebus announced on Monday that the defending champion would make his return for the third round, which starts on April 19 in New Zealand.

Kostecki said in a team statement he had needed time away to “prioritise my health” but was now ready to return to racing.

“I’m excited to be back behind the wheel again,” Kostecki said in the statement. “I needed some time away to prioritise my health.

“I’m grateful for the support, privacy and time Betty, Barry and the team have given me.”

In another twist, former Erebus Motorsport managing director Shannen Kiely has joined former key sponsor Coca-Cola after her departure from the team.

Kiely, who left the team after the Albert Park round, announced she had joined Coca-Cola EuroPacific Partners as its key account manager/state business manager.

Brodie Kostecki will get behind the wheel again at the next round. Picture: Getty

SUPERCARS CHAMP SET FOR SHOCK RETURN AS COSTLY SAGA ENDS

– Rebecca Williams

Brodie Kostecki will make a stunning return for Erebus Motorsport at the next round in Taupo later this month to belatedly launch his Supercars championship defence.

Erebus confirmed on Monday the defending Supercars champion would be back behind the wheel for the team in New Zealand after missing the first two rounds of the season amid an apparent breakdown in relations with the team. 

Kostecki said in a team statement he had needed time away to “prioritise my health” and he was excited to get back behind the wheel again.

The 26-year-old will undertake a test day at Winton this week in preparation for his return.

Kostecki has been on the sidelines since the eve of the 2024 Supercars season and there had been fears the champion would not race again this year for Erebus.

Todd Hazelwood has subbed for Kostecki at the opening two rounds at the Bathurst 500 and in Melbourne at the Australian F1 Grand Prix alongside Jack Le Brocq.

Kostecki led Erebus to its first drivers’ and teams’ championship last year before the saga engulfed the squad and the series, but said he was now ready to hit the track for the first time this year.

Brodie Kostecki won last year’s drivers’ championship. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

“I’m excited to be back behind the wheel again. I needed some time away to prioritise my health,” Kostecki said in the statement.

“I’m grateful for the support, privacy and time Betty, Barry and the team have given me.”

Erebus Motorsport chief executive Barry Ryan said the team was excited to have Kostecki back on track.

“On behalf of Betty and the team, we are pleased Brodie is ready to drive again,” Ryan said.

“Having Brodie back to work alongside Jack as he becomes more familiar with our cars will be a positive for our entire team.”

Ryan thanked Hazelwood, who will co-drive for the team at the Sandown 500 and Bathurst 1000, for stepping in to fill Kostecki’s seat.

“A big thanks to Todd, he performed brilliantly under considerable pressure and scrutiny, so hats off to him,” Ryan said.

“We look forward to having him at the test day this week and back in the seat for the enduros later in the year.”

The episode has been costly for Erebus, which lost three of its key sponsors from last year amid the Kostecki saga.

In Kostecki’s absence, Triple Eight rivals Will Brown, Kostecki’s former teammate at Erebus Motorsport, and Broc Feeney, have taken the early lead in the Supercars’ championship, sitting first and second in the standings.