Betty Klimenko
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Betty Klimenko became the first female team owner to win Australia’s legendary Bathurst 1000 in 2017, founding Erebus Motorsport in 2011 and leading them to multiple championships.
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Starting a team and setting up everything was not easy or cheap but we did it in record time
I wouldn’t change it to fund a supercar team; it takes sponsors and it’s hard to find them
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FULL BIO: Betty Klimenko
Betty Klimenko shattered motorsport’s glass ceiling as the first female team owner to win Australia’s legendary Bathurst 1000, proving that sometimes the most unlikely champions emerge from the most unconventional beginnings.
EARLY YEARS
Born Betty Ann Saunders-Klimenko in 1959 in Sydney, New South Wales, her story reads like something out of a dramatic novel—conceived in Kings Cross Police Station Cell No. 3, born drug-addicted to a police officer father and Anne Neil, a former Miss West Australia turned prostitute. Abandoned in a hospital nursery at seven weeks old, she was adopted by John Saunders, a Hungarian-Jewish Holocaust survivor and Westfield Group co-founder, and his wife Eta. Despite being raised in extraordinary wealth, Betty grew up largely under the care of nannies, attending a Church of England school while being raised in Jewish culture—a unique blend that would shape her fierce independence. Her biological mother died when Betty was just five, a loss she would never fully know but somehow always feel.
OTHER INTERESTS
Betty proudly calls herself a “bogan”—Australian slang for someone who embraces their rough-around-the-edges authenticity—and wears this badge with characteristic defiance. She’s been married to Daniel Klimenko for over 30 years, and together they’ve raised three children. Her interests beyond the racetrack remain largely private, though her advocacy work and her role as an international ambassador for the “Dare to be Different” initiative showcase her commitment to opening doors for other women in motorsport.
EARLY SUCCESS
Klimenko’s racing journey began later in life—around 1999, when her husband Daniel took her to a Porsche driving experience as a spectator. What started as a casual outing ignited a passion that would consume the next chapter of her life. She spent 14 years involved in amateur and semi-professional motorsport, primarily in Formula 3 and GT racing as a sponsor, learning the ropes and building the foundation for what would become her empire. In 2011, she made the bold leap from sponsor to team owner, founding Erebus Motorsport—a move that would redefine Australian motorsport forever.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
- 2011: Founded Erebus Motorsport, becoming a pioneering female team owner in Australian motorsport.
- 2017: Became the first female team owner to win the Bathurst 1000, one of Australia’s most prestigious motorsport events.
- 2023: Led Erebus Motorsport to victory in both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships in the Supercars Championship.
- 2024: Erebus Motorsport won the Bathurst 1000 and Race 22 of the Gold Coast 500.
INSPIRATIONS
Her husband Daniel stands as her greatest inspiration and supporter, the man who first introduced her to motorsport and stood by her through the expensive, exhausting journey of building a racing empire from scratch. Beyond personal relationships, Betty draws strength from her own unconventional story—a woman who emerged from abandonment and uncertainty to become a force in one of the world’s most male-dominated industries.
REPUTATION
Known throughout the paddock as the “matriarch of motorsports,” Betty has earned respect not just for her team’s success, but for her genuine, no-nonsense approach to business and her commitment to making motorsport more accessible. She’s praised for her leadership, resilience, and her tireless work breaking barriers for women in racing. Her willingness to give fans behind-the-scenes access and her authentic personality have made her one of the most beloved figures in Australian motorsport. As she once said about building her team: “Starting a team and setting up everything was not easy or cheap but we did it in record time.”
FUTURE GOALS/PLANS
As of 2025, Betty remains actively involved as owner of Erebus Motorsport, with the team focusing on integrating young drivers while pursuing further race wins and championships in the Supercars Championship. With Erebus now based in Melbourne following their 2016 relocation, she continues building on the foundation that has already delivered multiple Bathurst victories and championship titles.
References:
Wikipedia – Betty Klimenko
TEDx Talk – Betty Klimenko
Erebus Motorsport Official Website
Podcast Interview – Betty Klimenko
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