Brown, who was below contract with Erebus till the top of the 2024 Supercars season, just lately emerged because the front-runner to exchange van Gisbergen.
It was thought that Erebus majority proprietor Betty Klimenko had informally granted a launch. That launch has now been formalised with Brown’s impending exit now confirmed by Erebus.
“Will has been part of our workforce for nearly six years and whereas we’re disenchanted to see him go, it will likely be enterprise as normal for the rest of 2023,” Erebus CEO Barry Ryan mentioned.
“Our mixed focus is on securing each titles and constructing Erebus to be the perfect workforce in pit lane.”
As flagged by Ryan, Brown has been aligned with Erebus since early in his junior racing profession.
In 2019 the workforce dedicated to operating him in a predominant recreation Supercars entry in 2021, regardless of nonetheless having two drivers – David Reynolds and Anton de Pasquale – below contract.
Each ended up leaving the workforce on the finish of 2020, paving the best way for Brown to step up alongside Brodie Kostecki.
Will Brown, Erebus Motorsport Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Picture by: Edge Photographics
Brown has this yr emerged as a title contender because of Erebus’ quick begin to the Gen3 period.
He at the moment sits second within the factors, 41 behind Kostecki and simply forward of Triple Eight drivers van Gisbergen and Broc Feeney.
Erebus can be locked in a heated battle with T8 within the groups’ championship, the rivalry turning bitter at instances, together with run-ins within the stewards’ rooms in Perth and Sydney.
Talking concerning the cut up with the workforce, Brown promised to maintain pushing for each titles this yr forward of his exit.
“It’s been an unimaginable journey with Erebus, and I’m grateful for the experiences and alternatives I’ve had with the workforce,” Brown mentioned.
“This determination wasn’t taken calmly, and I wish to thank Erebus, your entire workforce, sponsors, and followers for his or her help throughout my time right here.
“I’ll be giving my all within the remaining races and stay 100 per cent dedicated to our joint purpose of successful the motive force’s and workforce’s championship with Erebus in 2023.”
Shane van Gisbergen, Triple Eight Race Engineering Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Picture by: Edge Photographics
Whereas Brown’s transfer to T8 now appears considerably inevitable, the Purple Bull-backed workforce has refused to touch upon the motive force market.
In a press release that adopted Brown’s launch from Erebus, T8 mentioned: “Shane is a contracted driver with Triple Eight till suggested in any other case. If this adjustments, it will likely be communicated by the workforce. We will likely be making no additional remark.”
There isn’t any doubt over van Gisbergen’s exit, the three-time Supercars champion having made his intentions clear in Sydney.
Since arriving again within the US this week he has made varied feedback about his dissatisfaction with Supercars and the brand new Gen3 vehicles.
He additionally revealed on the Dale Jr Obtain podcast that he has been inspired by quarters of the T8 possession group to make the transfer since his sensational win on debut in Chicago final month.
“All the bosses you converse to, from the principle one I acquired a textual content after the [Chicago] race, he is like, ‘you have to recover from there subsequent yr’.
“They’re totally supportive, which is superior.”
Van Gisbergen is very prone to be joined on his US journey by a key member of that T8 possession group, Jess Dane.