Motorsport: Big boost for Murphy's season

Greg Murphy (pictured) says Mark Skaife's contribution has already been felt during preparation for the Bathurst 1000. Photo / Alan Gibson

You just can't keep a good man down. After a frustrating year in the Australian V8 Supercar championship, legendary Kiwi tin-top driver Greg Murphy is looking for a much-needed fillip.

It could be just around the corner in the guise of the two endurance rounds of the series starting with the L&H 500 at Phillip Island, September 11-13 and the Super Cheap Auto Bathurst 1000, October 8-11.

The Sprint Gas Racing team have announced recently retired, eight-time series' winner Mark Skaife will strap himself back into a V8 and drive the 51 car alongside Murphy.

Between the two of them, they've managed to collect nine Bathurst trophies and will be one of the most formidable pairings to take on the mountain. Experience is a big factor in putting together a race win around Mt Panorama, and between Murphy and Skaife you've got more Bathurst nouse than anyone can imagine.

"After his [Skaife's] full-time retirement last year everyone was pretty certain he would probably be out there trying to get a drive for the enduros for this year," said Murphy.

"He looked around, spoke to a couple of guys he knows at our team and it slowly came together. I'm sure he had a couple of other options to look at but fortunately this one weighed up to be the best one for him. It's good, really good for all of us."

Although Murphy and Skaife have raced in Holdens for a combined 35 years, they have never co-driven with each other - even when both were racing at HRT in 1997 and 1998.

A win would emulate the multi-race winning drives of past pairings such as Peter Brock and Allan Moffat in 1986 (10), Skaife and Jim Richards in 2002 (11) and Brock and Richards in 1988 (12) at the top of the list.

"Pairing up with Murph at Bathurst is ideal because we both know what is required," said Skaife. "No one gets around the mountain better than Murph when he's dialled in - four wins and a long-standing lap record are testament to that.

"The team is a strong outfit with some good strategic operators like Jeff Grech and Mike Henry calling the shots. Last year Sprint Gas Racing went excellently to run a close second, and I reckon the team has the potential to go one better."

Skaife tested in Murphy's car at Winton in early May, at Sandown last month and again at Winton on Monday and provided valuable input in getting the car to perform better than has been evident this year. So far this season the team has had it tough with everything from team dramas to mechanical woes and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But Murphy has never been one to let a little bad luck get in the way of things and is probably the only man who could grind bad luck into submission.

"It's been yet another less than average year for us and we haven't come on anywhere near as we expected or hoped for," said Murphy.

"Mark went testing with us on Monday and it was very handy and he backed up lots of things I said and had a few pretty good ideas.

"There's only one or two little things we have to do to make the car comfortable for him and he's not far off the pace. He getting more comfortable each time he drives the car."

After a spirited second place finish at Bathurst last year with fellow Kiwi Jason Richards in a slightly bent car, the omens are looking good for a resurgent Murphy and revitalised Skaife to take it to the others.

The L&H 500 at Phillip Island is on September 12-13 and the Super Cheap Auto Bathurst 1000 is held on the weekend of October 10-11.

GREG MURPHY'S BATHURST WINS

1996 with Craig Lowndes
1999 with Steven Richards
2003 with Rick Kelly
2004 with Rick Kelly