EREBUS Motorsport owner Betty Klimenko has indicated the ball is in Brodie Kostecki’s court regarding his immediate future.
Kostecki is tied to Erebus until the end of this year, in line with a contract extension he signed in mid-2022.
The Supercars season officially got underway today at Bathurst without its reigning champion, as Todd Hazelwood fills in for Kostecki amid an ongoing standoff.
There have been insinuations of workplace bullying – vehemently denied by Erebus CEO Barry Ryan – and general frustration from fans as discussions around the 26-year-old’s next step play out in the background.
With lawyers involved, neither Erebus nor Kostecki have specifically commented on details around the breakdown that has transpired.
Erebus has not even confirmed whether Kostecki, Hazelwood or someone else will drive at next month’s Albert Park round – although it almost certainly will be Hazelwood alongside locked-in #9 pilot Jack Le Brocq.
“It’s still TBA,” Ryan said in a television interview with Supercars broadcast host Jess Yates.
“Like Betty said, we’ll respect Brodie’s privacy and we’ll see where it comes to in the next week or two.”
As for whether Kostecki will drive again for Erebus this year at all, Klimenko made clear: “It’s not up to us. It’s not in our hands.”
Speculation has linked PremiAir Racing to being a frontrunner to make a play for Kostecki as soon as this season, should he find his way out of the Erebus contract.
The Perth product reiterated his commitment to Australian motorsport during a speech at the recent Motorsport Australia Awards, spurning suggestions of a NASCAR switch.
