Former Supercars powerbroker Roland Dane has accused Erebus Motorsport of being a "toxic workplace" as reigning champion Brodie Kostecki attempts to exit the embattled team.
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Erebus hit the track on Wednesday for testing at Winton in regional Victoria, a week after the reigning teams champion confirmed Kostecki would not race for them at the season-opening Bathurst 500.
Sponsors Coca-Cola, Shaw and Partners and Southern Cross Truck Rentals have pulled their support from Erebus in recent days in a dramatic escalation of the saga.
Supercars and Erebus have copped criticism from all corners for how the situation has been managed.
Dane, the former long-time boss of Triple Eight, has unleashed some of the most explosive comments about Erebus yet.
"This is a case of what appears to be a toxic workplace," Dane wrote in a column for Speedcafe.
"Other teams and Supercars have seen evidence of this in the past."
Dane also lashed Supercars management for not stepping in to ensure Kostecki was on the grid for the upcoming season.
"The bottom line is that it falls to Supercars to be very proactive in resolving the situation that the category finds itself in right now," he wrote.
"That entails leadership of the highest level."
Todd Hazelwood has filled Kostecki's vacant seat, taking the Erebus Chevrolet Camaro for a spin at Winton on Wednesday.
"I've got to step in for Brodie and do the best job I can for the team," he said.
"It's an amazing opportunity working with a championship-winning team.
"You never expect these things to happen but certainly ready for the opportunity and the fortunate thing is I've given myself the best chance to get some good preparation before we go to Bathurst.
"Spending that time with the team in the workshop gives myself some confidence that the team is doing such a good job and I'll have a great car underneath me come race day."
Australian Associated Press
