How Erebus reflects on season opener

Although Erebus Motorsport’s championship defence did not contain silverware, both new drivers Todd Hazelwood and Jack Le Brocq believe the Bathurst 500 provided a good base to build from.

Having endured an extremely challenging off season that led to the absence of reigning champion Brodie Kostecki and departure of sponsors, pushing some to breaking point, Erebus started 2024 with an all new driver line up and fresh look.

There was a lot of focus on substitute Hazelwood, who was stepping in for Kostecki in car #99, having faced the prospect of being just a co-driver in 2024 after losing his full-time seat at BRT.

The returning driver showed strong top-three speed on Friday and made the Saturday shootout but some dramas meant he was unable to crack the top 10 in the two 40-lap races in car #99.

However, Hazelwood is certain the P11 and P13 results do not reflect the potential Erebus displayed at Mount Panorama.

“It was a positive weekend,” Hazelwood told AUTO ACTION.

“Our race results did not highlight our potential unfortunately.

“We had a few little dramas, losing 7-8s in the pits on Saturday when we were on track for a comfortable top 10 result and then on Sunday we had a clutch issue so it was not meant to be.

“We showed speed throughout the weekend and had top three race pace in those final two stints.

“I felt like we showed promise over the weekend and definitely did not disgrace ourselves, but when you know the team is a championship winning team capable of winning races, it is a bit disappointing when you don’t achieve that goal.

“The potential is there, we just need to put it all together in the future if that is what transpires.”

With such a big microscope being placed on Erebus, Hazelwood admitted at times it was challenge to block everything out and focus on his job behind the wheel.

“My mindset was to quieten the external noise and focus on my job internally,” he said.

“There has been a lot of focus on Erebus and with my name linked to that as well. 

“It was a pressure I tried to embrace and felt like I dealt with that well.

“(But) there were a few people that had some nasty things to say over the weekend which can always cause a distraction.

“But you just had to put that aside and get on with the job.”

On the other side of the garage Le Brocq managed to progress throughout the weekend to finish with a solid eighth place in race 2.

Nine years after making his enduro debut with Erebus, his full-time stint with the team suffered a heartbreaking start when just two corners into the first session of the season an engine issue saw car #9 come to a stop.

With practice 2 held in mixed conditions, Le Brocq had very limited running heading into Saturday qualifying and just missed the shootout before emerging 13th.

However, the team unlocked some pace in the overnight debrief and the #9 was a renewed force on Sunday, reaching the Shootout and coming home eighth.

Le Brocq said the result was a big boost having admitted there is still a lot to learn about the Erebus Camaro.

“The guys helped me understand how to unlock this car around the circuit and it definitely improved overnight so we made a step forward,” he said.

“You always want to go better but it was nice to be in the 10.

“It was always going to be hard doing just a handful of laps before qualifying and then straight into the race, so we were leaning on Todd in terms of set-up which is never ideal, especially around here.

“There are a few things I need to do better in this car to get the most out of it.

“It is a very different car to what I have been used to for the last six years, but the team are doing a great job and will give me all the tools to press on and go again at the AGP. We will keep building.”

Image: Peter Norton

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