2018 SUPERCARS MEDIA AWARD WINNERS .COM.AU SINCE 1971 Betty opens up to Foges about her commitment to Supercars. MEDIA GUIDE 2019 COVERAGE FROM AROUND THE WORLD AUTO ACTION TALKS TO THE BIG PLAYERS “WE WILL GIVE YOU THREE PERCENT MORE POWER Betty created and paid for the landmark Mercedes FULL NATIONAL COVERAGE Benz Supercar program. to give every single Holden team on this grid IN THE ENGINE BUT YOU HAVE TO PAY ONE MILLION crawled under the door again to emerge just as – except for (factory backed) Red Bull – an he and Luke were going out onto the podium. incentive. If you’re on the podium, you get a EUROS. BUT IF YOU GET A PODIUM IN THE FIRST THREE Th en it was a weird week that followed. We did bonnet. If you come in the fi rst fi ve, you get MONTHS, WE’LL ONLY CHARGE YOU 500,000 EUROS.” all the media on the Monday and then Monday a door or what ever it is. But then they said afternoon my grandson went into hospital. On “Oh, no, we can help you”. I said I don’t want the Wednesday, we learned that my brother’s anything, I can aff ord it. It’s the other (Holden) cancer had come back and on the Th ursday teams, if we don’t help them and keep them help all the volunteers, without whom there I fi nd that rally amazing. Even though the on the bonnet? My smiling face? One of my he had to go in for a six-hour operation. So going, we’re not going to have a series. So I’ve wouldn’t be any racing. fans know I have a lot of money, they still call businesses is on the car, but besides that, my Bathurst was already gone because family told them, when they give every single Holden us the little team that could. main business (property development) is so comes fi rst. We didn’t actually get around to team an incentive program – don’t have to give Many people have been critical of how much far away from motor sport that there’s just no celebrating it properly until a couple of months us money, just parts that we would have to money you’ve spent, but the point is that, But, realistically, the team doesn’t go wanting reason to put it on there. ago. Well, my husband and I, anyway. Winning pay for normally – then I’ll put the Lion back. wasted or not, it’s yours to do with what you and I’d suggest it runs on a pretty healthy Bathurst was special and you’ll never get that And I’m still waiting. It’s not just about me. like. budget. Did winning Bathurst make it all feeling again. You can win Bathurst a hundred Th at’s why I named the team Erebus so that it worthwhile? times, but the fi rst time’s the best. wasn’t Betty Klimenko Racing. So this can go Exactly. It was money I saved myself. I didn’t Actually, it’s not. It’s a pretty basic budget. on forever. I’m already getting closer to the big use my family’s money. I used money I had Barry is very careful with my money. I’ll say It scared the crap out of me. I had an anxiety Surely it makes you want to win more? point where we will be a force to contend with. empire, who adopted her) started throwing beginning of the year, I just went “Okay, I motor sport shopping centre in the sky, so I saved. Some women buy shoes or private planes to him “Look what they have down there at attack, fi rst time ever. I thought I was having a In a sense, we are now, but I think we’ll be in a ping pong balls at me. I said to him “What are was wrong” because I didn’t want him there. wanted this to be something that lasts after I’m or houses. I went into motor sport. And now, DJR Team Penske. Isn’t that a great idea?” He’ll heart attack. But apparently my mind couldn’t You know what, to be really honest, to win better position next year because Anton will be you doing?” He said “If you can ignore the ping I wanted to go for a points year, so I wanted gone. how much I spent on it’s not even a bump. say to me “We don’t need it, Betty. We’re not accept the fact that we’d won. I was thinking Bathurst was always on my bucket list. I’ve more experienced. And Anton’s a big factor in pong balls and get it right, you will always get it an older driver that was just going to give me Barry’s brought it all the way down to where for buying it, Betty. You won’t use them”. it’s only our second year with Holden, this is done it. I’ve ticked it. If I never win it again or the team’s future. right”. And it worked. I know it sounds weird, points every weekend. Didn’t have to come fi rst Of course, you are in a position to take an me it’s nothing. It would be like an eightieth not meant to happen. But we won it fair and I win it 10 times, it’s still ticked off my bucket but apparently ping pong throwing was a big or second, but was going to give me continual independent stand. Th e scariest thing about of what I was paying. He’s brought it so far You spend the money where it counts, square, and for me that’s a very big thing to list. Funny thing is, winning a championship Th e team needs more consistency. thing in Hungary. Or maybe some other kind points. Barry talked me out of that and talked you to those in the pit lane is that you’re down and then he gets worried when he has to though, don’t you? be able to do. For once, I was lost for words. was never on my bucket list. It was only of ball. me into Anton. But I hadn’t followed Anton’s simply too wealthy to be controlled. ask me for fi ve thousand dollars. It used to be I was standing there with this goofy smile on winning Bathurst. I think it was because we’d Oh, defi nitely. career and then I went and sat myself down, did 10 times that every week (under the previous Yes, we do, but every year the balance is going my face, as if to say “Look, everyone, this is won the Bathurst 12 Hour (in 2013). I wanted So you think that the team is now down to my homework and said to Barry “Okay, we’ll I think it is. Th ey can’t intimidate me, either. management). more towards sponsors than it is towards me. my footprint, not my father’s, not anyone to win the Bathurst 1000 as well, so I’ve now So what’s holding you back? tidying up the smallest details? try it your way. But if at the end of the year we I was trained by the best (her business tycoon We’re actually now at a point where I can’t yell else’s. I didn’t throw millions at this one. Th is done all that. I have to go and fi nd other stuff should’ve gone my way, you owe me a beer”. I adoptive father). Which is more of a refl ection on the huge at Barry and say “I put in more money than is just hard work and the union of brilliant to put on my bucket list because I’ve nearly I don’t think it’s one thing that’s holding us It is. But tidying them up in an order that will already owe Barry like a case of beer. But he was sums you were spending then. all the sponsors”. We’ve just tipped over that people”. I listened to Al (Alistair McVean, covered them all. And most of it’s in motor back. It’s no secret that out pit stops are not the fi t the puzzle because if you don’t, you end up right – and I’m quite happy to say he was right When you’re fi nancially independent, that bridge where sponsors are paying more than I Reynold’s race engineer) on the radio with Dave sport, anyway. best if it doesn’t include fuel. But we practise with your left arm not knowing what the right because Anton has proved himself. Sometimes gives you a great deal of freedom, doesn’t it? Oh, it is. Sometimes I scare myself, but I am – and it’s a good feeling. over the last couple of laps and I was crying and practise. Th ese are still young kids. Not arm’s doing. It doesn’t work. We have the magic he tries a little too hard and he over-steps can’t let that change the way I feel. I can’t cry hysterically. It was such a big moment for all of Well, this year you have been contending for all young, but it’s still a bit nerve-wracking for formula; we just have to make more of it.