Erebus provides update of Gen3 builds
Erebus Motorsport has revealed progress on its two Gen3 builds, with boss Barry Ryan detailing the team’s in-house work.
Erebus will field two of the 14 Chevrolet Camaros in the 2023 Repco Supercars Championship.
The team will be represented by Will Brown and Brodie Kostecki for a third season, and welcomes new Coca-Cola backing.
Since Gen3 builds began, teams have offered a range of updates, from chassis builds to componentry explainers.
Erebus is one of two teams constructing its own chassis along with Triple Eight Race Engineering and Walkinshaw Andretti United.
The team committed to building its own chassis in-house, with James White leading the builds.
Ryan today provided insight into where the Bathurst-winning team is at with its preparations.
"We chose a direction different from most other teams and committed to building our own chassis in-house under the direction of our long-term 'welder' James White,” Ryan said.
"James is a brilliant person, fabricator, engineer and designer but prefers the term, 'I’m just a dumb welder'.
"Our Gen3 chassis and clips will arguably be the best in the category and that’s where we wanted our base to start.
"The rest of the build comes down to the control components that we could choose to source from other avenues or to make in-house.
"We carefully selected the best manufacturers we know from years of experience and have made everything so far via these lines.
"Control parts we have no choice and no control over, and need to purchase via the accredited manufacturer.
"All components we have assembled in-house under the leadership of [crew chief] Brad Tremain and [chief mechanic] Brad Packham.
"The attention to detail is where gains can be made in Gen3 and I think we have already made many gains without turning a lap.”
Ryan explained that the other facets of the build — including the delivery of control parts such as engines, exhausts, body parts and other parts of assembly — are still a work in progress.
The first Winton shakedown is slated for February 1, with a Winton test scheduled for February 7 before the all-in Sydney test on February 22.
Queensland teams are slated to shake down on January 30 and test on February 9.
Ryan reiterated that his team is determined to deliver “complete” cars to testing.
"We could send out a picture of a car on wheels and pretend we are nearly ready but that would be misleading and simply waste critical time that can be spent making things better,” he said.
"That’s not Erebus. As someone wise once said to me, always use the six Ps: Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.
"Erebus will shake our cars down and test when we have 100 per cent complete cars.
"Testing an incomplete car without proper initial set-up time is a waste of everyone’s time and will not help us win races in 2023.
"If this happens to be the first of February, that’s great, but I suspect we will shake down and test February 13th-15th.
"Brodie and Will are more ready than ever, and I know they will drive out of the pits ready to drive as fast as they can and race hard to push for the top step of the podium, right from the word go."
The all-new Erebus Camaros will be on the grid at the opening event of the Gen3 era, the Thrifty Newcastle 500 from March 10-12.
Tickets are on sale on Supercars.com and Ticketek.com.
