Kostecki Out For Bathurst & AGP, then BACK for Taupo

[Jack65]

Adderon is entitled to have his say, it is the constant dummy spits that wear a bit thin. How many times has he quit the sport, only to resurface somewhere else?

His latest rant seems to be driven by having backed the wrong horse. Evidently Brodie and Paul Morris considered Boost's sponsorship expendable in the interests of reaching a compromise with Erebus. Had he been a bit more circumspect in his social media postings, Erebus probably wouldn't have had an issue.

[v8supes]

This is all very weird. Ruin their chances of another title, then have him back... Sabotage.

[Compromised]

Originally Posted by Jack65

His latest rant seems to be driven by having backed the wrong horse. Evidently Brodie and Paul Morris considered Boost's sponsorship expendable in the interests of reaching a compromise with Erebus. Had he been a bit more circumspect in his social media postings, Erebus probably wouldn't have had an issue.

Backed the wrong horse? Brodie had a SERIOUS health issue, ostensibly due to conditions at hell on earth a.k.a Erebus. Backing Brodie almost humanized Adderton. You could argue Coke et al backed Brodie too.

But Brodies all good now, see ya Pete, see you Coke, love driving for Erebus they're a real family. Problems? What problems?

[GTRMagic]

It’s interesting to see Here where the pilot had his MA medical, they found an issue, the pilot arranges treatment, and will be back on deck soon.

We don’t know the nature of his wellness issue either, yet the release says there is a problem, they are dealing with it with medical experts, and it is in good control.

Not one of these traits were in common with the way Mr Kostecki’s “health” issue was handled..

[Mixer]

I'm amused by the root of the team name:

Erebos, is the personification of darkness. In Hesiod's Theogony, he is the offspring of Chaos,

Seems apt.

[Jack65]

Originally Posted by Compromised

Backed the wrong horse?

Yep, Adderton thought Brodie wouldn't buckle to Erebus' demands, yet he did.

Originally Posted by Compromised

Brodie had a SERIOUS health issue, ostensibly due to conditions at hell on earth a.k.a Erebus.

This is the whole problem about the details being given being light on, we don't really know if he did or it was just a smokescreen. Unfortunately there have been instances in professional sport of athletes playing the serious health issue card when faced with a bit of adversity which is an afront to people who have genuine health issues.

Originally Posted by Compromised

You could argue Coke et al backed Brodie too.

Coke looked after themselves, presumably they and the other sponsors read that this was a saga that was not going to play out well and bailed.

[GTRMagic]

David Russell to PremiAir!

Did he move to wait for his mate?

Mr Ojeda may now have a seat..

[GTRMagic]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

David Russell to PremiAir!

Did he move to wait for his mate?

Mr Ojeda may now have a seat..

[GTRMagic]

Legal Letter At Dawn

Makes sense..

[GTRMagic]

The text of the WWOS article..

EXCLUSIVE: Erebus Supercars team's 'aggressive' legal threat sent to champion driver Brodie Kostecki before his return
By Simon Chapman

Erebus Motorsport threatened to sue Supercars champion Brodie Kostecki for allegedly causing the team to suffer significant losses after the driver sought to terminate his contract, Wide World of Sports can reveal.

WWOS has seen an email from Kostecki's lawyer in early February stating the driver proposed to terminate his contract with the Melbourne-based team.
Kostecki's lawyer received a letter from Erebus Motorsport by way of lawyer Sven Burchartz of Kalus Kenny Intelex in response to the driver's request stating the team would seek an injunction and sue the 2023 champion for damages if Kostecki's agreement was terminated.

Kostecki's lawyer stated Erebus Motorsport alleged the driver acted wrongfully in communicating with third parties, causing the team to suffer significant losses. Although not explicitly outlined in the communication seen by WWOS, those third parties are believed to be the sponsors that left the team.?

While an exact figure was not glimpsed in the communications, several sources have indicated to WWOS that the sum of the damages Erebus Motorsport would have sought was at least $3 million and upwards of $4 million had it reached court.

According to Kostecki's lawyer, Erebus Motorsport said in its letter that it expected Kostecki to comply fully with his contractual obligations to the team. The driver's lawyer labelled the potential injunction and threats to sue an "aggressive response" to Kostecki's request to terminate the contract.
In the wake of the announcement Kostecki would not be racing at the season-opener, naming rights sponsor Coca-Cola Europacific Partners pulled its sponsorship from the team as did investment and wealth management firm Shaw and Partners.
Southern Cross Truck Rentals was in negotiations to renew its contract with Erebus Motorsport but withdrew from those talks earlier this year over what the company's owner Steve Blackmore said were based on "issues that were occurring that are beyond Brodie not just driving" that he said were "never addressed" and remain pertinent.

WWOS can also reveal Grays Online Auctions has terminated its sponsorship with the team. Grays sponsored the team in round one of the Supercars season but is no longer listed as a sponsor on Erebus Motorsport's website and Kostecki's car was void of any Grays sponsorship at a recent test day.? Grays had not responded to WWOS' request for comment at the time of publication and Erebus Motorsport would not comment on the matter.

In communications from Kostecki's representative, it is said there was no sign Erebus Motorsport had any intention to negotiate.

WWOS understands Kostecki and Erebus Motorsport CEO Barry Ryan had been at loggerheads since midway through 2023 and had reached an impasse that prompted Kostecki to seek a way out.

WWOS understands part of Kostecki's negotiations dating back to late last year before the short-lived split would keep the driver and the team's CEO away from each other.

On January 25, the team announced Brad Tremain had been installed as team principal under Ryan. It's believed that was a measure to appease Kostecki and create something of a stop-gap between him and Ryan.

On January 30, it was reported by Speedcafe that Kostecki would miss the season-opening Bathurst 500 on February 23-25 at Mount Panorama.

Erebus Motorsport confirmed the news a day later but said "Contrary to media reports, Kostecki remains part of the Erebus Motorsport family and is a valued member of the team."

WWOS understands the letter from Erebus Motorsport to Kostecki and his representatives was received in early February after that announcement.

Kostecki missed the second round of the season at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix on March 21-24 where Supercars hosted the Melbourne SuperSprint.

Peace talks were held between Kostecki, team owner Betty Klimenko, and Kostecki's long-time mentor Paul Morris in Melbourne just days before the grand prix weekend.

The outcome of those talks was that Kostecki will drive for Erebus Motorsport again.

Exactly what played out in those discussions hasn't come to light.

Morris declined to comment when approached by WWOS but confirmed he was not officially Kostecki's manager.

Erebus Motorsport declined to comment.

On April 8, Erebus Motorsport announced Kostecki would return to the team for the Taup? 400 in New Zealand across April 19-21.

In a statement, Kostecki said he needed "Some time away to prioritise my health" and that he was "Grateful for the support, privacy and time Betty (Klimenko, team owner), Barry (Ryan), and the team have given me."

On April 10, Kostecki made his on-track return with Erebus Motorsport at Winton Motor Raceway, completing laps for the first time since last year's season-ending Adelaide 500.

Kostecki drove with an unpainted helmet void of sponsors. As part of negotiations to make his racing return, demands were allegedly made by team owner Betty Klimenko to Kostecki to suspend his sponsorship with Boost Mobile.

Boost Mobile founder Peter Adderton, who has been a vocal supporter of Kostecki throughout the ordeal, claimed the split was a "knife in the back."

Erebus Motorsport CEO Barry Ryan said the team was "back to normal" upon Kostecki's comeback.

"We would have liked to have started the year like that, but unfortunately we couldn't," said Ryan in an interview with the official Supercars website at the test day.

"It's great to see Brodie happy, healthy and ready to go. It's always a good vibe here.

We all know each other really well, we've been together a long time.

"It's great. It's no different to what we finished at the end of last year. Everyone is ready to go. We've got the No.1 on the car. It's pretty exciting."
Kostecki is contracted to Erebus Motorsport until the end of 2024.

The Article

[Mixer]

Seems Brodie thought he would get away with driving for Premiair sponsored by Coke and Boost?

When he was still contracted to Erebus?

[GTRMagic]

[Compromised]

Interesting that a Channel 9 reporter broke this story - not Speedcafe, V8 Sleuth etc.

Where's that hard hitting Supercars media we know and love?

[Sandgroper]

So does Bush put on a happy face for 2024 season then move on ?

[TWRv12]

Erebus Supercars team's 'aggressive' legal threat sent to champion driver Brodie Kostecki before his return

https://wwos.nine.com.au/motorsport/...0-4dc6827fbded

[Jack65]

Originally Posted by Compromised

Interesting that a Channel 9 reporter broke this story - not Speedcafe, V8 Sleuth etc.

Where's that hard hitting Supercars media we know and love?

Because that's who the holder of the email chose to show it to, presumably on the basis that it would receive more views on a mainstream, rather than specialist, website.

Explains the sudden about face and confirms that the relationship is terminal, just a case of fulfilling contractual obligations before they go their own ways in 2025. Makes the health issue card that has been trotted out less believable.

[rik]

Originally Posted by GTRMagic

The text of the WWOS article..

Kostecki's lawyer received a letter from Erebus Motorsport by way of lawyer Sven Burchartz of Kalus Kenny Intelex in response to the driver's request stating the team would seek an injunction and sue the 2023 champion for damages if Kostecki's agreement was terminated.

I guess we can cross off a Tickford seat for Brodie next year!

[banksie]

Originally Posted by Compromised

Interesting that a Channel 9 reporter broke this story - not Speedcafe, V8 Sleuth etc.

Where's that hard hitting Supercars media we know and love?

Simon Chapman is an ex-Speedcafe writer.

[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by Mixer

Seems Brodie thought he would get away with driving for Premiair sponsored by Coke and Boost?

When he was still contracted to Erebus?

Or Barry Ryan thought he could be a terrible operator and Erebus Motorsport thought they could threaten to sue Kostecki and this would be fine?

This could have been much more easily solved by disposing of Ryan (Matthew White is a good operator for example) and keeping Klimenko away from the team too, to keep not just Coca-Cola, SCTR and Shaw & Partners on side but also Boost Mobile on side (and allow Adderton's spat with Klimenko extinguished by having Klimenko at arms length from the race team).

[GTRMagic]

[Ares]

Originally Posted by V8 Fireworks

Or Barry Ryan thought he could be a terrible operator and Erebus Motorsport thought they could threaten to sue Kostecki and this would be fine?

This could have been much more easily solved by disposing of Ryan (Matthew White is a good operator for example) and keeping Klimenko away from the team too, to keep not just Coca-Cola, SCTR and Shaw & Partners on side but also Boost Mobile on side (and allow Adderton's spat with Klimenko extinguished by having Klimenko at arms length from the race team).

I would have to agree. There is something a little bit toxic around Betty, in my opinion. Barry is get a roll in the next Hangover movie, He's going to be the new guy who says really dumb **** at really inappropriate times. Problem is he keeps adlibbing onset.

[Sandgroper]

For a MD I think Peter should say less about this whole saga.
Less said the better to be honest. Its not about him (I do understand he is involved partially) but at the moment the tide has turned and seems to be about him.

Lets go racing and move on ASAP

[Compromised]

Yeah yeah let's move on...

Don't worry that this fiasco is symbolic of one of Supercars biggest issues. Recognising the problem and working to fix it would go along way to improving the show.

One of the biggest stories in recent times, everyone in the industry knew what happened, yet only the WWOS journo, the guy who can report on rugby if he loses his Supercars "privileges", reports the issue?

The obsession with managing the narrative (whether it's Gen3 issues, Brodie, Tim Edwards) isn't working, they're just not good enough at it

[mf51]

Has to be said… Peter Addertons grammar is appalling

[HDTVKSS]

I wonder how much effort Kostecki will put into performance for an employer that he has such a solid relationship with….