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Taupo is on this weekend and of course the big news is that Brodie is back at Erebus, although it seems not by choice but more by legal threats from the undoutedly toxic Erebus. workplace.It is now revealed that midway through the 2023 Supercars season, Kostecki and his teammate Will Brown approached Erebus Motorsport owner Betty Klimenko with concerns about the team's environment....
Reports are now coming out that the Brodie fallout actually started from before Taupo when Brodie did his NASCAR excursion. It seems Erebus went from being keen on the deal and putting money up to help Brodie get the deal, signing up as financial supporters. Threy then changed their mind and were opposing his NASCAR, subseuently withdrawing their financial support. Their backing was said to be just over $10000 but it left BK with a funding shortfall and was money Brodie then had to find late in the day to supplement his Boost Mobile X and other Wrebus backers like Shaw and Thompson.
Interesting that the initial renders of the car showed Erebus stickers, those not present a week later.
Additionally it has been said Barry Ryan actually quit the team at the end of the season, before Brodie announced he wanted out but it didnt happen and he was reinstated. Then was when Brodie said he wanted out. The internal promotion to create a Team Principal was indeed as thought, to be an attempt to create a space between Brodie and Barrie.
It is said Erebus offered Brodie three options at the time, one being to buy out his own contract. Another was to not race for anyone and take a year out. The other option being to see out his contract and drive for Erebus. Then Erebus apparently withdrew the offer of Brodie being able to buy out his contract.
Of the two options left it seems Brodie chose to sit out the year... hence the announcement he would not be at the opening rounds and the instatement of Hazlewood as a sub. Having been offered that (tking a sabbatical) as an option Kostecki was subsequently threatened by Erebus Motorsport with litigation in early February for damages if he terminated his driving contract. Erebus Motorsport alleged Kostecki's communications with sponsors led them to pull support.
I believe the final outcome of Brodie returning was a compromise negotiated between Betty Klimenko and Paul Morris with no involvement from Barry.
Sponsors say they left because of the toxic environment and allegations contrary to their interests. A loss of both of the drivers was an issue, They also spoke of raised concerns about serious allegations from multiple sources which they claimed were causational factors in Kostecki's efforts to split with the team.
The sponsors said their decision to leave was not based on one singular complaint.
They also said they were frustrated and expected the sport to have a responsibility to investigate allegations that it knew about.
They said Kostecki's return to the team made those issues moot and that the lack of an investigation had left serious claims unexamined.
The sponsors said they couldn't have their brand associated with the team while allegations went unchecked and that the absence of an investigation had left them open to ridicule.
The sponsors also said they were kept in the dark by the team and were only told by Erebus Motorsport that Kostecki would miss the season opener shortly before it was made official publicly.
So to say Erebus is a toxic environment is perhaps an understatement . I guess any smiles we see within Erebus are all in reality very fake.
