KLIMENKO: 'Erebus Will Represent SBR Tradition'

EREBUSRacing owner Betty Klimenko has publically thanked Stone Brothers Racingfounders Ross and Jim Stone for their involvement in setting up the team shepurchased late last year.

Inwhat seems to be the final piece of the ‘transition’ from the all conqueringFord team to a privately-backed team running AMG Mercedes-Benz E-Class productsthis year, Klimenko thanked the long-time team owners in a heartfelt message onher public Facebook fan page.

“Thismorning I would like to thank Ross and Jimmy Stone for bringing SBR to ourshores and for the many years of truly exciting racing they have given us,” shewrote.

“Iwould like to thank them for all the help and guidance they have given me andmy CEO Ryan Maddison during this transition.

“Rossand Jimmy thank you so much for allowing me to carry on your legacy, thank youfor spending time with me, to make sure I understand what I am getting into.Stone Brothers is a true icon in Australian motor racing history.”

Klimenkobelieves that the newly re-branded Erebus Motorsport V8 Supercar team will continueto represent the history and values of Stone Brothers Racing as well aspossible throughout their maiden V8 season.

“Itis not easy when a name so well known in Australian V8’s, and part of itsracing history, will no longer be seen across the top of the garages, but to goforward and not carry that history would be a travesty.

“Whenfans walk along the pits in Adelaide for the first time, in 2013, and theydon’t see the SBR sign, I think there will be some sad faces, I know mine willbe. But to see EREBUS MOTORSPORT for me will be amazing, so it will be a bittersweet time.

“Andto the 47 new additions to the Erebus family we welcome you, we are becoming avery large family, I think I need a bigger back yard for that Xmas BBQ.”

WithErebus formally assuming the reins at SBR, Klimenko was quick to remind fansthat the Stone Brothers influence would remain behind the scenes for some timeas the team establishes itself this year.

Theteam will continue to draw on the expertise and experience of both Ross and JimStone as their Car of the Future program accelerates to an anticipatedmid-January launch date.

“RossI am sorry, but that rocking chair will have to wait, you have a lot to teachme still so I am glad will be around for a while yet. Jimmy you still have toteach me to hammer like you do.” Klimenko wrote.

Achange of name does not change the team, the history of it or the ability ofit. I am not here to reinvent the wheel, I am here to carry on what twowonderful Kiwi’s started.

“SBRwill be represented, as the founders of the team, in everything ErebusMotorsport V8 does. Thank you.”

Inanother post elsewhere on her Facebook page,Klimenko noted the team was hoping to unveil their E-Class AMG V8 Supercars‘Somewhere in Sydney’ prior to the official V8 Supercars pre-season test atSydney Motorsport Park, on February 16.