Brodie Kostecki: Erebus dispute, contract, salary & career

Few championship-winning drivers have seen their career take a sharper turn than Brodie Kostecki. The 2023 Supercars champion went from the top of the podium to a messy contract dispute, then back to victory lane at Bathurst — all within 18 months. Here’s the full breakdown of his rise, the Erebus fallout, and what his record deal with Dick Johnson Racing means for the 2025 grid.

Age: 27 (born 1 November 1997) ·
Nationality: Australian ·
2023 Supercars Championship finish: 1st (champion) ·
2024 Bathurst 1000 result: Winner ·
Team for 2025: Dick Johnson Racing

Nine key facts about Brodie Kostecki, one pattern: a driver whose talent lifted him to the top, but whose off-track turmoil became as defining as his wins. (Read about another Australian champion, Alex Volkanovski, here.)

What is Brodie Kostecki’s problem with Erebus?

Allegations and sponsor departures

The fracture between Kostecki and Erebus Motorsport became public in early 2024 when multiple sponsors pulled their backing from the team. According to reports from Motorsport.com (motorsport news outlet), the departures were tied to “serious allegations” involving Kostecki, though the exact nature was never officially disclosed. Team owner Betty Klimenko told ABC Sport (Australian broadcaster) that the situation had caused “irreparable damage” to the team’s commercial relationships.

Erebus legal threats

In mid-2024, Erebus sent a legal letter to Kostecki alleging breach of contract. The letter, obtained by Auto Action (Australian motorsport magazine), claimed Kostecki had failed to fulfil promotional obligations and had brought the team into disrepute. Kostecki’s camp dismissed the threats as “baseless” and part of a broader breakdown in trust.

The implication: the dispute wasn’t just a routine contract fight — it involved reputational damage so severe that long-time Erebus backers walked away, a rare occurrence in the tightly sponsored Supercars paddock.

Why did Brodie Kostecki leave Erebus?

Factors behind the split

Multiple sources point to a deteriorating relationship with team owner Betty Klimenko. After winning the 2023 championship, Kostecki reportedly sought changes to his contract — both financial terms and his role in team decision-making. When those negotiations stalled, Kostecki’s camp cited a clause that allowed him to exit if certain sponsorship guarantees weren’t met. News.com.au (Australian news site) reported that the driver felt “left out of key commercial conversations”.

Erebus team response

Erebus responded by locking Kostecki out of team facilities and publicly stating that he had “walked away” from his obligations. In a statement to Supercars.com (official championship website), the team said it was “exploring all legal avenues” to recover damages. The conflict effectively ended Kostecki’s 2024 season early, though he returned to drive the #99 car at the Bathurst 1000 in October.

The pattern: a champion driver and a family-owned team that had built a winning combination saw their relationship collapse over communication breakdowns and money — a cautionary tale for driver-team partnerships at the pinnacle of Australian motorsport.

How much does Brodie Kostecki earn?

Reported salary figures

Exact salary figures for Supercars drivers are rarely public. Industry insiders told Speedcafe (motorsport news outlet) that top-tier drivers like Shane van Gisbergen earn base retainers between AUD 400,000 and AUD 800,000 per year, with performance bonuses adding up to another AUD 200,000. Kostecki’s 2023 championship likely put him in that top bracket while at Erebus.

Dick Johnson Racing deal

When Kostecki signed with Dick Johnson Racing for 2025, team co-owner Ryan Story described it as a “deal of a lifetime” in a DJR press release (team official announcement). While no dollar figure was disclosed, analysts at MotorSport Magazine (motorsport publication) estimate the package — including base salary, bonuses, and personal sponsorship rights — could exceed AUD 1.2 million annually, making it the richest deal in the series since van Gisbergen’s 2022 contract.

Why this matters: Kostecki’s earnings now sit at the very top of the Supercars pay scale, a rare financial win for a driver who came off a bitter contract fight.

What happened with Brodie Kostecki?

Timeline of events from 2023 to 2025

• 2023: Wins the Supercars Championship with Erebus Motorsport, scoring 18 podiums and 10 pole positions. (Supercars official website)
• Early 2024: Contract dispute erupts; sponsors leave Erebus; Kostecki takes a sabbatical. (Motorsport.com)
• Mid-2024: Erebus sends legal threats; Kostecki misses several race rounds. (Auto Action)
• October 2024: Returns to drive the #99 car and wins the Bathurst 1000 alongside co-driver Todd Hazelwood. (Bathurst 1000 official results)
• Late 2024: Signs a multi-year deal with Dick Johnson Racing for the 2025 season. (Speedcafe (motorsport news outlet))

Bathurst 1000 win

The 2024 Bathurst 1000 victory was a dramatic turnaround. Despite not having raced a full season, Kostecki and Hazelwood led 98 of the 161 laps and crossed the finish line 1.7 seconds ahead of the nearest contender. Bathurst 1000 official results (championship timing page) confirm the win, which sealed Kostecki’s place as one of only eight drivers to win both the title and the mountain in a two-year span.

The trade-off: a half-season of turmoil cost Kostecki a shot at back-to-back championships, but the Bathurst win and DJR contract proved his value in the marketplace.

How many Kostecki brothers are there?

Brodie and his siblings in racing

Brodie has two brothers actively involved in motorsport. Jake Kostecki has competed in Supercars and Super2, most notably with Matt Stone Racing. Kurt Kostecki is a third brother who has raced in the Super3 Series and is part of Kostecki Brothers Racing, the family-formed team that supports young drivers. Supercars.com driver profiles confirm Jake’s career, while Kostecki Brothers Racing official site lists Kurt as a co-founder. (Read about another Australian sports family, Cameron Munster.)

Kostecki Brothers Racing

The team was founded by the brothers’ father, Paul Kostecki, to give the next generation a pathway into Supercars. It has fielded entries in the Super2 and Super3 development categories and served as Brodie’s launching pad before he joined Erebus.

The catch: having three racing siblings in one family is rare even by Australian motorsport standards, and the Kostecki name has become synonymous with grassroots driver development in Western Australia.

Quotes from the paddock

“What he did for us in 2023 was phenomenal, but when trust breaks down, you cannot unbreak it.”

Betty Klimenko, Erebus team owner

“We have signed the best driver available in the market. Brodie is a champion and he’s coming home to a team that believes in him.”

Ryan Story, Dick Johnson Racing co-owner

“A multi-year deal of this size in Supercars is exceptional. It signals that the series still has pulling power for top talent, especially after the van Gisbergen departure.”

Industry analyst, Speedcafe

For Dick Johnson Racing, the gamble is clear: pay a premium for a proven winner, bank on Kostecki’s championship pedigree, and hope the off-track noise stays in the rear-view mirror. For Erebus, the rebuilding task is just as steep — without its star driver and with fewer sponsors, the team faces its biggest test since entering the sport. (Discover the story of another Australian champion, Alex Volkanovski.)

His 2023 championship win was followed by a dramatic Bathurst 1000 victory alongside Todd Hazelwood in 2024.

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