Breaking news
Other open wheel
Murphy to make NZ Grand Prix start
Bathurst 1000 winner Greg Murphy will make a comeback to circuit racing at next month's New Zealand Grand Prix.
Andrew van Leeuwen
Published: Dec 20, 2020, 6:41 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The former Supercars ace turned TV pundit will join a star-studded line-up for the Toyota Racing Series opener at Hampton Downs on January 22-24.
He'll be aiming for a second NZGP crown nearly three decades after the first.
A 21-year-old Murphy won the race in a Reynard back in 1994, right before embarking on his hugely successful Supercars career.
“It was obviously the most significant thing that I had achieved in my career,” said Murphy.
“I had won a few things but nothing that really announced myself as someone that could be a professional race car driver.
“The big thing – I can recall the feeling around it – is that it was like I had put a stake in the ground. It meant a lot. It was a progression and a key contributor with where I went next – at that point it was still a hobby I did as an amateur but that allowed me to chase a career.”
As for his 2021 chances, Murphy said: “It will be a massive challenge. I think perspective needs to be applied – I’m 48 and haven’t done anything serious in a car, competing for such a big trophy, since 2014 really.
"I have done a bit of GT racing but that was just fun.
“The competitive element will kick in – none of us wants to be there making up the numbers – but I will not have it easy."
Murphy added that competing in what will be Kenny Smith's 50th NZGP was a key motivating factor to doing a deal.
“The fact that Kenny Smith is entering his 50th New Zealand Grand Prix was a big draw card to competing," he said.
"If my involvement helps grow the interest in the event then that will be a success.
“This event deserves to be recognised for what it is. By getting some top performers in other categories and stars that have competed before coming back it will help create the spark in the New Zealand Grand Prix that is deserves.”
Reigning Bathurst 1000 winner Shane van Gisbergen and GT expert Chris van der Drift are both among the starters for next month's race.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Van der Drift joins New Zealand Grand Prix grid
Next article TRS loses immigration exemption
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Andrew van Leeuwen
Toby Price explains 'unfortunate' Mitsubishi split
Dakar
Dakar
Dakar
Toby Price explains 'unfortunate' Mitsubishi split
Supercars parity review begins
Supercars
Supercars
Supercars parity review begins
SRO set for bigger Australian GT presence
GT World Challenge Australia
GT World Challenge Australia
SRO set for bigger Australian GT presence
More from
Greg Murphy
Murphy wants Brands Hatch Supercars race
Supercars
Supercars
Murphy wants Brands Hatch Supercars race
Bidding farewell to a Kiwi motorsport kingdom
Supercars
Supercars
Bidding farewell to a Kiwi motorsport kingdom
Murphy calls time on Bathurst 1000 career
Supercars
Supercars
Bathurst
Murphy calls time on Bathurst 1000 career
Latest news
IndyCar set to drop Nashville Superspeedway and D.C. for 2027; Barcelona announcement looms
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 31 min
IndyCar set to drop Nashville Superspeedway and D.C. for 2027; Barcelona announcement looms
Carlos Sainz: "Difficult to be convinced" that F1 2026 can finish in the Middle East
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
34 min
Carlos Sainz: "Difficult to be convinced" that F1 2026 can finish in the Middle East
F1 United States GP: Friday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
55 min
F1 United States GP: Friday schedule, weather forecast and how to watch
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe