Why Kostecki form is bittersweet for Erebus
Brodie Kostecki has won two of the last three races
Reigning champion will join DJR after final round in Adelaide
Kostecki to be replaced by impressive rookie Cooper Murray
Having left behind the tough start to 2024, Erebus Motorsport CEO Barry Ryan believes outgoing driver Brodie Kostecki could win another championship with the team on current form.
Kostecki has claimed two wins in as many rounds heading to the season-ending VAILO Adelaide 500, which will be his last in Erebus colours.
Announced in August, the reigning champion signed a deal with Dick Johnson Racing, with rookie Cooper Murray taking his place in 2025.
After returning two rounds into the season, Kostecki had one podium to his name — in Darwin — heading to the enduros, which came after his DJR deal was made public.
Kostecki and Todd Hazelwood fought for the podium places before their efforts were curtailed by an electrical issue, before they dominated the Repco Bathurst 1000.
Proving his Bathurst speed was no fluke, Kostecki controlled the Gold Coast finale from pole position, keeping Erebus in victory lane.
Speaking after the win, Ryan said once the team fought though the trials and tribulations of the opening rounds, they were able to turn car pace into results.
“I don’t think we actually ever lacked [car pace], but there’s a lot of mental side of the sport, and getting everybody’s brain back into gear,” Ryan said.
“Getting through the crap we went through, that takes a lot out of everybody, and a lot Brodie as well.
“He’s going to another team, which is really unfortunate, I’d love to keep him, because we could win another championship with the way he and George [Commins, Race Engineer] are working together.
“We’ll reset again, we’ve got young Cooper, we can’t wait to put him in this fast car and just see what we can do.
"We’ll do it again, whether it’s next year or the year after, we’ll back ourselves as a team to keep winning.”
Ryan was delighted to see Erebus wrestle back momentum and deliver when it mattered, the team leading the way at Mount Panorama before doing the same in Surfers Paradise. Highlighting how it wasn't a flash in the pan, Jack Le Brocq ran fourth in both enduros, and was a fixture of the top 10 on the Gold Coast.
He said a clear goal had been set once Kostecki returned in New Zealand — win Bathurst.
“It's just been a bit of a momentum shift in the last three or four months. Everybody's happy and excited to be racing again,” Ryan said.
“The start of the year was a shitfight and we’ve got to be honest about. We all dug deep. We’re all back in a good head space including this champion [Kostecki] and I am so proud of how he has gotten through the year.
“We had a mission to win Bathurst as soon he stepped back in the car before New Zealand, that was the focus, and he smashed that.
“We are hoping to smash the next two races too.”
Erebus could finish as high as fourth in the teams' championship at the season-ending VAILO Adelaide 500. Tickets for the November 14-17 event are on sale now.
