EXCLUSIVE: DJR’s ‘unholy alliance’ with Erebus

Ford’s struggling spearhead Dick Johnson Racing is switching to chassis built by GM rival Erebus Motorsport as part of its rejuvenation plan.

It’s an unprecedented cross-brand tie-up – some would say an ‘unholy alliance’ – as DJR goes all out to get back to the top.

The deal is done – in fact, it’s understood the first Erebus-spec chassis for the famed Ford team has already been built.

The shock co-operation has been exposed in the latest Race For The Championship podcast, powered by VACC Automotive Apprenticeships.

Also in a big episode: Ford friction in Supercars; Corvette versus Mustang Bathurst 12 Hour showdown looming; and Ford’s global racing boss opens up.

But it’s DJR’s bold move to swallow it’s pride to get back to the front that will dominate pre-Adelaide 500 news.

It’s this year’s biggest Supercars news story since Brodie Kostecki’s move from Erebus to DJR next year was confirmed.

In fact, they’re inter-related.

Find out why in the podcast.

Here’s more about how DJR can tap into an arch-rival team’s technology:

The odd alliance means the Shell V-Power Racing Team’s Ford Mustangs will be constructed around chassis put together by a leading Chevrolet Camaro squad.

The move is enabled by the Gen3 rules as DJR seeks to rebuild around Brodie Kostecki, last year’s Supercars champion and this years’ Bathurst 1000 winner with Erebus.

After early season angst, Kostecki and his engineer George Commins are back at the top of their games, dominating the Bathurst 1000 and the Gold Coast 500 Sunday race.

Moving to DJR, they demanded Erebus’s chassis technology, which they understand.

Beneath their distinct bodywork, the Camaro and Mustang share the same underpinnings, with all dimensions and components strictly prescribed by Supercars.

The Gen3 control chassis can be supplied completely built up by designer/manufacturer PACE Innovations or assembled from a kit by teams.

Teams aren’t allowed to construct chassis to the rigid control specifications using their own components. They must use the standard kits.

As the Ford Mustang Gen3 homologation squad, DJR has used complete PACE chassis.

Erebus is among the teams that build them from the kits, assembled according to the rules.

While there is no apparent technical advantage in using an outside builder, there is a perception that Erebus does it better, as evidenced by its mastery of Gen3 last year with its title-winning Camaro – trouncing Chev homologation team Triple Eight – and recent resurgence at Bathurst and Surfers Paradise.

Insiders surmise that DJR’s switch to Erebus-built chassis is ‘psychological’, part of a big reset to return to the top.

But it be may be more real than that, with Erebus’s Mount Gambier-based guru chassis fabricator James White building chassis to much finer – legal – tolerances.

Kostecki and Commins are convinced White’s expertise will make a difference as they try to take DJR back to the top.

DJR hasn’t been a true force since Roger Penske withdrew support at the end of 2020, struggling under revised ownership and a top-heavy management.

The storied Ford team is looking for any marginal gain to again vie for victory.

The unprecedented – some would say unholy – alliance with a GM team stems from managing shareholder Ryan Story’s relationship with Erebus owner Betty Klimenko.

Back as team leader after a long illness, Story has a history of rapport with Klimenko.

He negotiated Anton De Pasquale’s release from Erebus to replace Scott McLaughlin and was instrumental in securing Kostecki’s move to DJR in a heavily orchestrated dual announcement.

DJR’s contentious chassis switch is a clear sign of intent to give Brodie Kostecki the best chance of regaining his Supercars crown next year. 

Backed by durable veteran Will Davison, Brodie will have the all the tools to use his talent to lead the famed Ford squad back to the front.