Greg Murphy praises young Kiwi

BREAKTHROUGH WIN: PHOTOS/GREG HENDERSON
V8 Supercars
by Robert Lowe
Shane van Gisbergen's debut victory in V8 Supercars could be just the start, compatriot Greg Murphy says.
The last New Zealander to win on home soil, Murphy had tipped the 21-year-old as one to watch in the Hamilton 400, saying he had shown good speed.
Van Gisbergen had his problems in a wet race one on Saturday, finishing 16th in his Stone Brothers Racing Ford.
But the Gold Coast-based Aucklander bounced back in race two yesterday, after starting from fourth on the grid and taking the lead just before the halfway stage of the 59-lap contest.
The victory lifted him to sixth on the points table, with two-time champion Jamie Whincup remaining top despite finishing down the field in both races.
Murphy said Van Gisbergen's confidence would be on the up after his first chequered flag.
"It's funny how often a situation like this starts to have a flow-on effect," he said.
"This is going to be just awesome for the confidence .
"Everyone knows as soon as he wins one it's going to open the floodgates a bit and hopefully for him it does."
Murphy himself has 28 race victories in V8 Supercars and he took out the overall title four times when the New Zealand round of the championship was at Pukekohe.
Van Gisbergen had come close to his breakthrough win last year with nine podium finishes and Murphy described his display yesterday as impeccable.
"He drove an impeccable, faultless race and I take my hat off to him," he said.
"With his performances last year, it was only a matter of time before he was going to win one."
Murphy's own fortunes during the weekend were mixed, with an eighth in race one followed by a early retirement yesterday because of a jammed gear box in his Holden.
While Van Gisbergen's win delighted the home fans, and had both Murphy and the other New Zealander in the field, Fabian Coulthard, applauding, there was praise as well from the likes Garth Tander.
The West Australian, who was unbeatable in Hamilton in 2008 when the city was first included on the championship calendar, finished an impressive third yesterday from a grid position of 19th.
He said Van Gisbergen's growing maturity was evident in his victory.
"We've all watched him come to the series and grow through the series," he said.
"When he's made his mistakes, we've all had our run-ins with him, but to see him develop over time to where he is now is a true credit to him."NZPA