Billionaire on brink of selling embattled Supercars team
Rumours that championship-winning Supercars team Erebus Motorsport is set to be sold continue to circulate – and a favourite to take the reins has emerged.
Aaron Hickmann of South Australian-based technology company Vailo is understood to be the leading candidate.
Vailo has existing interests in motorsport via its naming rights sponsorship of the Adelaide 500, which acts as the Supercars season finale.
The company also took a space on Brodie Kostecki’s Chevrolet Camaro when he raced in the NASCAR Cup Series at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course last year.
Vailo has been prominent as a sponsor in South Australian sport through the Adelaide Crows in AFL and Adelaide United in the A-Leagues.
Erebus Motorsport is owned by billionaire Betty Klimenko, the adopted daughter of Westfield founder John Saunders.
One of the two Erebus Motorsport-owned licences required to race in the Supercars championship belongs to CEO Barry Ryan in part. In 2019, Erebus Motorsport confirmed Ryan had bought 50 per cent in one of the two charters.
Erebus Motorsport has yet to confirm whether the team is for sale but rumours persist that the team could be sold in a matter of weeks.
The events of the past year surrounding Brodie Kostecki’s brief split with the team are thought to have played a part in Klimenko’s decision to sell.
Sources have suggested that a deal could be done before the next round of the season, the Perth SuperSprint at Wanneroo Raceway, on May 18-19.
Another name linked to a potential sale is Brett Thomas of TFH Hire Services. The temporary fencing hire company has been the naming rights sponsor of the team in the first three rounds and will continue its sponsorship of Brodie Kostecki for the rest of the year.
Wide World of Sports understands Thomas is not among the potential bidders and he confirmed as much to motorsport outlet Speedcafe.com when approached.
Erebus Motorsport celebrated a decade in Supercars in 2023 but has been part of the racing landscape in Australia since 2011.
Brodie Kostecki won the drivers’ championship in 2024 and Erebus Motorsport took out the teams’ championship in firsts for both parties.
What a sale means for Kostecki beyond 2024 remains unclear. His contract with Erebus Motorsport is up at the end of this year and as the 2023 champion, he should be considered hot property.
Should Erebus Motorsport be sold, the make-up of that team could yet change and it stands to reason Kostecki could conceivably extend his stay at a new-look outfit.