Supercars champion Brodie Kostecki has reportedly split from Erebus Motorsport and may not race at all in the 2024 season.
The 26-year-old won his maiden title last year, coming up trumps in a showdown with departing great Shane van Gisbergen.
But his defence could be over before it even began.
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Kostecki has already decided to leave Erebus just three weeks out from the Bathurst 500 season opener, according to Speedcafe.
In a sign of the apparently fractious situation Kostecki is said to have left without having a new drive lined up with a rival Supercars team.
The Supercars grid is full for 2024, meaning any outfit interested in signing Kostecki full-time would need to axe a current driver or relegate them to co-driving duties.
Kostecki previously raced in the United States and has been keen to expand his NASCAR appearances after a one-off cameo last year.
There has been no hint, however, that he would make a permanent move in the near future.
Kostecki’s NASCAR backer Richard Childress, who has close ties to Erebus, has previously said he wanted to run the Australian in a handful of races this season.
Erebus already received a shake-up for 2024 when fellow young star Will Brown left to join Triple Eight as van Gisbergen’s replacement while co-driver Jack Perkins has also moved on.
The championship-winning team will now enter the season with an entirely new line-up, albeit with Jack Le Brocq returning to the fold after nearly 10 years away.
Speedcafe added Le Brocq could be joined at Erebus by former teammate Todd Hazelwood.
Hazlewood lost his spot on the grid when Blanchard Racing Team signed Aaron Love and James Courtney for their first season as a two-car operation.
The Supercars season gets underway live and free on Seven and 7plus with the Bathurst 500 on February 24-25.
Seven and 7plus will also have extensive coverage of the Bathurst 12 Hour on February 17-18.