Brodie Kostecki has admitted he’s at a “crossroads” with the Erebus team in the reigning Supercars champion’s first public comments on his contract saga.
Erebus confirmed in January that it would not field its star driver at next weekend’s season-opening Bathurst 500 following Speedcafe reports of a sensational breakdown in relations between Kostecki and team management.
The Melbourne squad insisted in a statement that Kostecki remained “a valued member” of the team, denying rumours of a rift despite having to draft Todd Hazelwood into one of its cars.
Get all the latest supercars news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!
Kostecki made his first public appearance of the year at the weekend’s Motorsport Australia awards gala, where he won the prestigious Peter Brock Medal.
Speaking on stage to collect his award, Kostecki made some brief but telling comments about the unfolding ordeal.
“It is no secret that I have come to a crossroads with my 2023 Supercars team,” he said. “Ongoing discussions mean that I cannot say any more on that matter at this time. I thank you for appreciating my position.
“What I can say is that I have been overwhelmed by the support from some quality individuals and sponsors in the industry who have offered their unwavering support.
“I also have to say a massive thankyou to the thousands of fans from both sides of the fence who have sent me personal messages of support, checked on my wellbeing or just given me another thumbs up on my title and wished me all the best.”
Kostecki’s reference to Erebus not by name but as his “2023 Supercars team” will have done nothing to quash speculation that team and driver will part ways this season. “Ongoing discussions” are therefore likely to extend only so far as talks about termination. Few expect the two parties to rekindle their relationship from here.
So far the uncoupling process has been more difficult for team than driver. Despite winning the teams championship, Erebus has lost three high-profile sponsors in the aftermath of the news, with title partner Coca-Cola, long-time backer Shaw and Partners and Southern Cross Truck Rental all pulling the plug following the news.
Kostecki backer Boost Mobile has also withdrawn from talks with Supercars to renew its sponsorship of the Gold Coast 500.
Bathurst 500 to begin Supercars season | 06:55
But the 26-year-old admitted that a route back onto the grid for 2024 remained unclear.
“I am unsure what the immediate future holds,” he said. “What I can say is that I am in generally good health and that I have a long-term commitment to Australian motorsport and have a burning desire to stand up here again more than once as multiple Supercars champion.
“I would like to thank Motorsport Australia for the invitation tonight and congratulate all the award and trophy winners.”
His reference to being in generally good health would appear to be rebuttal of suggestions that his mental health is at the heart of the split following a statement from Supercars in January.
His commentary also puts paid to the idea that the breakdown of his relationship with Erebus could drive him out of the country and to the United States, where he made his NASCAR debut last year with the backing of MobileX, sister brand to Boost Mobile.
Boost Mobile and MobileX are both founded by Peter Adderton.
Speaking on the Rusty’s Garage podcast, Adderton said Kostecki’s only motivation was to leave Erebus, with no clear second step on the table.
“Obviously I’m close to Brodie,” Adderton said. “This concept that Brodie has offers and is entertaining offers from other teams is simply not true. I hear these things and it’s people out there making that up.
“Brodie just needs a break from all that’s going on. This concept of he’s trying to get into another Supercars team, he’s trying to get out of his contract, he wants more money — it’s all false. It’s not true and it’s not real.
“Brodie’s not interested in entertaining anything right now. He just needs a break. This concept that he’s out there looking for other things, to me, or that he’s being offered other things is just simply not true.
“I think it’s a motive that’s coming out from the other side to say he just wants to get out and go race for somebody else.
“I think what he wants to do is just be released from where he is and then be able to decide once he’s released what he can do.
“Right now he’s not making any decisions on what he wants to do other than, ‘I don’t want to race in that team’.”
Investigation into Horner heats up | 00:51
Speaking at the Motorsport Australia awards, Kostecki said he was “truly honoured” to win the Peter Brock Medal.
“I want to thank the voting panel and the Brock family in particular for this privilege,” he said.
“This award was created with the intent to help promote the ideals and passions that helped make Peter Brock a legendary household name in this country.
“While we all know how good he was as a race car driver, my understanding is that this award was created to highlight Brocky’s passion for the sport, his camaraderie for his fellow competitors and his unwavering relationship with the fans.
“When you understand those criteria, it takes the meaning of winning this award to a whole new level.”