Supercars news 2024: Reigning champion Brodie Kostecki set for shock split with Erebus Motorsport
Supercars could be dealt a seismic blow less than a month out from the start of the season, with speculation the reigning champion is in talks to split with his team.
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Supercars could face the loss of the driver it “needs desperately” with reigning champion Brodie Kostecki on the verge of a shock split with his title-winning team Erebus Motorsport.
In a massive bombshell just a month out from the start of the season, it emerged Kostecki could walk from the team he won the Supercars crown with last year amid rumblings of a falling out with the team, headed by chief executive Barry Ryan.
It’s understood last-ditch talks were held on Tuesday between Kostecki’s representatives and the team, but the 26-year-old could pull out of the final year of his contract.
Kostecki did not return calls on Tuesday, while Erebus was not making any public comment.
If he was to be released from his contract, it is unclear what the conditions would be around Kostecki being able to race with another Supercars outfit in 2024.
Kostecki claimed his maiden Supercars championship last year, ending the reign of Shane van Gisbergen, while also helping Erebus Motorsport to its first teams’ championship.
It would be a crippling loss for Erebus, which already lost its other star driver Will Brown to chief rivals Triple Eight as van Gisbergen’s replacement.
It would also be a massive blow to the category after the departure of triple series champion van Gisbergen to NASCAR for 2024 if Kostecki was not on the grid.
Todd Hazelwood, who lost his drive at Blanchard Racing Team at the end of last season, is tipped to be Kostecki’s replacement at Erebus if he does not drive.
It would mean Erebus would then go into the 2024 campaign with two new drivers after Jack Le Brocq signed on last year as Brown’s replacement.
Boost Mobile founder and Kostecki’s personal backer Peter Adderton said it would be a major loss to the sport if the champion departed.
“This is a huge loss for Supercars and those supporting partners and, most importantly, the fans,” Adderton wrote on Instagram.
“It’s clear there are issues across the board from teams to drivers …. no Brodie, no SVG, what a huge loss.
“Brodie is someone the sport needs desperately.”
A Supercars spokesman said in a statement “we are aware of the reported situation” but could not comment any further on the off-season bombshell.
Should he not be on the Supercars’ grid, Kostecki could further pursue his racing interests in the United States.
Kostecki made his NASCAR Cup series debut for Richard Childress Racing last August and was set to return for more appearances around his Supercars commitments.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Childress said late last year he wanted Kostecki to return for as many as five races in the US this year and backed the Supercars star’s talent to pursue a career Stateside.
The shock Kostecki news comes after the announcement of a team restructure last week.
Erebus announced it had appointed its crew chief Brad Tremain as its new team principal for 2024 after Ryan had previously held the twin roles of team principal and chief executive.
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Originally published as Supercars news 2024: Reigning champion Brodie Kostecki set for shock split with Erebus Motorsport
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