Erebus Motorsport has announced its new livery ahead of the 2024 Supercars season, going ahead without Brodie Kostecki at least for the time being, with TFH Hire Services coming on board as its major backer.
Jack Le Brocq will race in car No.9, while Todd Hazelwood — who will represent the team for at least the first race while Kostecki remains absent — will be in car No.99.
Hazelwood drove car No.1 during pre-season testing at Winton earlier this month but, as the reigning individual Supercars champion, only Kostecki has earned the right to race with that number in the season proper, albeit having achieved that feat with Erebus.
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The two new Chevrolet Camaros were paraded through pit lane this morning at Mount Panorama where Erebus, as the reigning 2023 teams champion, will occupy the first two garages.
Both chassis are TFH Hire Services-branded with flashes of the company’s red and yellow, but are otherwise similar to the Erebus vehicles that ran at Winton.
“The support of TFH coming into the Bathurst 500 has been invaluable and really lifted spirits,” Erebus team principal Brad Tremain said.
“We’re stoked Brett (Thomas, CEO) and everyone at TFH Racing not only share our passion for the sport but believe we can go out there and continue where we left off in 2023.
“We’re hoping this is just the start of a long and successful partnership. The cars look mega and we can’t wait to get both Jack and Todd out there on track.”
It comes after Shaw and Partners became the first sponsor to announce its decision to pull back while Southern Cross Truck Rentals followed suit.
Since then Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, which held naming and livery rights to Erebus’s Supercars operations over the past two years, confirmed it was out.
TFH’s support of Erebus adds to its already bulging portfolio of motorsport investments, with fingers in the pies of Trans Am, Toyota 86s, TA2, Aussie Racing Cars, Speedway and Series X3 Queensland.
“We’re pumped to add Supercars to that list, especially to be working with the awesome crew at Erebus Motorsport,” Thomas said.
“We can’t wait to support Jack, Todd, and the whole team here at the mountain as they show Supercars fans they’re here to race.”
Brodie Kostecki had stayed silent on his rift with the Betty Kilmenko-owned, Barry Ryan-led Erebus team until accepting the Peter Brock Medal at the Motorsport Australia gala earlier this month.
“I guess the pinnacle of motorsport in the country is the Australian Touring Car Championship or what is now known as the Supercars Championship,” he said after accepting the award.
“To have my name on a trophy that includes legends like Brock, Johnson, Moffat, Geoghan, Lowndes and Ambrose and more recent heroes like Whincup, McLaughlin and van Gisbergen is quite surreal and a position that is not lost on me.
“To say that 2023 was an interesting year would be an understatement,” he went on in his acceptance speech.
“It is great to share this trophy with all the mechanics and crew and the other hard-working members of our team at track or back at the shop.
“In more recent weeks, it is no secret that I have come to a crossroads with my 2023 Supercars team and ongoing discussions mean that I cannot say any more on that matter at this time — and 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 thank you 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.”