KEY POINTS:
Since Top Gear's James May will not be able to make it on one of the world's biggest road trips, our very own motor racing go-to guy, Greg Murphy, has stepped up to the plate for the New Zealand show.
The four-time Bathurst 1000 winner has been asked
to take part in the TV programme and its spin-off, Top Gear Live, alongside Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and The Stig.
It's all happened with a hiss and a roar for Murphy, as just last week he was taking part in the AA EnergyWise economy run around the North Island.
At the end of that event he was looking forward to the final round of the Australian V8 Supercars at Oran Park when he got a call telling him he was required in Dublin, Ireland, to meet Clarkson, Hammond and some of the senior production crew.
On his return to Melbourne the New Zealand Herald caught up with him.
"Somebody who knew someone who knew me thought I might be all right for it, and my name was put forward and away it went. Right place at the right time, I suppose," said Murphy.
"I had to go all the way to Dublin last weekend to meet up with them all. I was only there for two days and talked to Jeremy [Clarkson], Richard [Hammond] and a few of the senior producers.
"They were good to meet and obviously we all know who they are, but they didn't know who I was. They're almost exactly like they are on TV in real life. What you see is what you get and that's exactly what I like. They were really, really good and gave me plenty of time."
The legend that is The Stig fancies himself a bit of a hot-shot around makeshift circuits, but the Kiwi V8 legend Murphy has done pretty well in the past around makeshift circuits - called street races - so it should be all on for young and old.
"I don't know if we'll be going head to head and no one really knows what the exact structure of the show is yet. Anyway, he's too volatile and special to work with anyone," said Murphy.
It's a big step up for anyone who does most of his camera time inside a car to have to spend time in front of the camera.
"They all seemed really happy that I'll be working with them; it's a huge honour and I'm really looking forward to it and the opportunity it presents," said Murphy.
I suppose it makes sense for the presenters and producers alike to meet Murphy, as they wouldn't have known him from a bar of soap other than that he raced cars.
But as all of us in Australasia know, Murphy isn't backward in coming forward and has personality to burn.
"They didn't know much about me at all so it could have been a total flop as far as they were concerned. They just wanted to make sure I'd be okay and fit in and it all worked out, so away we go," said Murphy.
New Zealand's motorsport "God" won Bathurst in 1996, 1997, 2003 and 2004 and this year showed he's still got what it takes by finishing second, with another Kiwi, Jason Richards, just under a second behind Jamie Whincup and Craig Lowndes.
Murphy made his move to open wheelers in 1995 driving the works Audi Quattro A4 and the occasion V8 endurance round. He moved to the V8 Supercars full-time in 1997 and has never really looked back.
