Erebus confirms Brown exit

Will Brown will leave Erebus Motorsport at the end of 2023 ahead of an expected shift to Triple Eight to replace Shane van Gisbergen.

News emerged this week that Brown had been linked to Triple Eight, with van Gisbergen set to shift to NASCAR.

Last year, Brown and Brodie Kostecki signed contact extensions with Erebus through to 2024.

However, in a statement released Friday, Erebus confirmed Brown has been released from the final year of his contact to "explore new opportunities".

Earlier this week, van Gisbergen revealed there was a shortlist of drivers, all of whom he was "comfortable" with as possible replacements.

Brown is set to win the race for the prized vacancy at Red Bull Ampol Racing, which has won the last two drivers' and teams' championships.

The 25-year-old's exit from Erebus comes despite the team becoming regular front-runners in 2023, with Brown taking four wins.

Brown is fighting for the title, but will leave at season's end

The Erebus statement reads:

Erebus Motorsport has today announced that Will Brown will finish his term with the team at the conclusion of the 2023 season.

The decision comes as Brown looks to explore new opportunities, resulting in an amicable agreement and early release from his contract, which had him locked in until the end of 2024.

Brown’s tenure with Erebus has been a long one, signing with the current Championship leaders back in 2017 before making his Supercars Championship debut in 2021.

“Will has been a part of our team for almost six years and while we are disappointed to see him go, it will be business as usual for the remainder of 2023,” Erebus CEO Barry Ryan said.

“Our combined focus is on securing both titles and building Erebus to be the best team in pit lane.”

Brown currently sits 2nd in the Driver’s Championship behind his teammate Brodie Kostecki, meanwhile Erebus also leads the Team’s standings.

“It’s been an incredible journey with Erebus, and I’m grateful for the experiences and opportunities I’ve had with the team,” Brown said.

“This decision wasn’t taken lightly, and I want to thank Erebus, the entire team, sponsors, and fans for their support during my time here.

“I’ll be giving my all in the remaining races and remain 100 per cent committed to our joint goal of winning the Drivers' and Teams' Championship with Erebus in 2023.”

Triple Eight responded in a statement of its own shortly afterwards, stating van Gisbergen was contracted with the team until advised otherwise.

Brown joined Erebus in the main game on a full-time basis in 2021, and has won five races with the team.

The Queenslander was an Erebus co-driver between 2018 and 2020, first racing with Anton De Pasquale before partnering David Reynolds.

Brown and Kostecki replaced Reynolds and De Pasquale in 2021, and are first and second in the drivers' standings after seven rounds.

The Toowoomba-born driver's relationship with the now Coca-Cola-backed team stretches back to his Super2 days with Image Racing, which is an affiliate of Erebus.

Brown will continue his push for the 2023 drivers' championship at next weekend's OTR SuperSprint.