Betty Klimenko sees no reason to move her V8 Supercars team away from its Mercedes-Benz equipment, but Erebus’ Australian GT operation could be another story.
The Erebus owner says the team is assessing an array of GT3 options to replace its pair of SLSs and expand its AGTC footprint.
The Melbourne-based team could field as many as five cars next year as it canvasses for customer entries to prepare alongside its own cars.
One of Erebus’ current SLSs is expected to be sold, with the team likely to continue to run the other in the AGTC’s second division.
Mercedes has this year brought out a new GT3 car, based on the AMG GT, which looms as the most logical choice for the team to purchase.
While customers have already approached Erebus about running AMG GTs on their behalf, Klimenko says she’s undecided on her own plans.
“I will be changing (replacing the SLSs), I just don’t know where I’m changing to,” Klimenko told Speedcafe.com.
“Mercedes hasn’t put a price out yet for their new car, so until I know that, I don’t know which way I’m headed.
“I’ve started my homework and I’m looking at all manufacturers to see where my best options are.”
Klimenko and her family have had a long attachment to Mercedes road cars, with a love for the brand proving a driving force behind her moves into GT and eventually V8 Supercars racing.
With Erebus having had to go it alone on its V8 Supercars program, Klimenko says that her passion has evolved with the team.
“It’s not a brand thing for me anymore,” she said. “This is where my growth in motorsport is coming about.
“It’s not about the brand, it’s about having the right equipment, people and drivers.
“If the best brand for your drivers and crew is an Audi or a Nissan over a Mercedes, then that’s the way we’ll go.”
Erebus’ GT effort will return to two cars in Townsville, with Morgan Haber rejoining the championship in a new chassis following his heavy accident at the Clipsal 500 season opener.
Klimenko is meanwhile expecting her V8 Supercars squad to retain its current equipment through the category’s Gen2 introduction in 2017.
Although switching brands isn’t being ruled out, the team won’t forsake its competitiveness for a cut-price factory deal elsewhere.
“If a manufacturer came up to me tomorrow and said ‘we’ll give you $10 million per year, free cars and free parts’, you’d be stupid not to look at it,” she said in Speedcafe.com’s recent Cafe Chat.
“(But) I really think my engines have the capability of being one of the best on the grid. I don’t want to give that up.
“I’d rather hopefully rely on sponsors to believe in me than give it up for the sake of having a manufacturer there.”
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