Erebus owner Betty Klimenko’s incredible story revealed after Bathurst 1000 win

BETTY Klimenko, who became the first woman to win the Bathurst 1000 as an owner of Erebus Racing, reveals she and champion driver David Reynolds — born 10 days apart but in different decades — may well be kindred spirits. Klimenko declared. “He belongs here.”

Betty Klimenko with the Peter Brock Trophy and her drivers David Reynolds and Luke Youlden.

BETTY Klimenko holds the Peter Brock trophy in her left hand.

And in the right, a burning cigarette.

Beautiful.

“This is for my dad,’’ the Erebus owner says, nodding to the silverware.

“He’s been gone 20 years this year. And coming into the weekend, I said if I could do anything it would be to win the Bathurst 1000 for him.

Betty Klimenko with the Peter Brock Trophy and her drivers David Reynolds and Luke Youlden.

“And now I have.”

Which is some story.

The adopted daughter of Westfield co-founder John Saunders, Klimenko now sits among the gutsiest stories in Australian sport.

Betty Klimenko reacts as her team wins the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

All tattoos, black boots and bleached hair, the colourful Supercars owner has previously admitted to spending her life savings — upwards of $40 million — on the little racing team that conquered not only a mountain, but every powerhouse garage further up pit lane.

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Only three years ago, The Daily Telegraph revealed Klimenko had taken out a personal loan of $10 million — not to mention the pocket money of a wonderful young boy who believed he could save her mob with his $51 and 50 cents — to keep the Erebus Motorsport dream alive.

On Sunday, she showed why.

Klimenko said the win was more remarkable given the small size of their team

“This moment, it’s why I did it,’’ she said. “And it’s magical.

“We’re a team of 20 people.

“A team of 20 people that works harder than you can imagine.

Betty Klimenko in pit lane in Perth.

“And today we took it to the mountain.

“And it’s the people on the mountain, around the mountain who gave us this win.

“Doesn’t matter if they were Holden fans or not. Because all these motorsport lovers ... they just love us for being Erebus.”

Love your equally controversial driver Dave Reynolds too, right?

Betty Klimenko with driver Will Davison

“The day Dave Reynolds walked into Erebus was a magical day,” Klimenko said. “He belongs here.”

At which point we suggested the pair might be, ah, kindred spirits?

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“We’re born 10 days apart,” she laughed. “Not in the same decade but our birthdays are 10 days apart.

“So yes, we are.

Klimenko is the adopted daughter of Westfield co-founder John Saunders pictured left with Frank Lowy and Sam Moss.

“We’re the same star sign. Same everything.”

Switching from Mercedes to Holden last year, Klimenko has simply refused to give in.

Ever.

The 2017 Bathurst 1000 simply the latest chapter of an incredible woman who, conceived in a Kings Cross jail cell, was orphaned at seven weeks before being adopted soon after by the Hungarian Jew who, arriving in Australia with a 10 pound note, would amass a family fortune worth $960 million.

Klimenko with John Saunders.

A man whose grit lives on in his daughter.

“When I walked away from Queensland (and Mercedes), it was just my husband and I,’’ she recalled. “We moved to Melbourne, teamed up with Holden and now look where we are.

“And I’ll never give up. Ever.

“Because this is my passion.

A baby Betty with her adoptive mother Eta.

“And I like to know that I’m the first woman, ever, to win the Bathurst 1000 as an owner. It’s magical.

“And now I need to finish my cigarette.”

Originally published as Erebus owner Betty Klimenko’s incredible story revealed after Bathurst 1000 win