Motorsport: Bathurst blunder costs Murphy

Greg Murphy's error means he and co-driver Mark Skaife will start from 10th position tomorrow at Mt Panorama. Photo / Supplied

New Zealand driver Greg Murphy will start from 10th on the grid for tomorrow's Bathurst 1000 endurance race after his top 10 shootout time was excluded by the stewards.

Murphy incurred the wrath of the officials after a pit lane exit issue which means he and co-driver Mark Skaife will start from 10th position tomorrow.

The other New Zealand hopeful Jason Richards, fastest in qualifying yesterday will start from fifth on the grid after timing two minutes 08.5015 seconds.

Holden's Garth Tander timed 2min 07.946sec lap on a partially wet Mount Panorama circuit to become the first man to claim back-to-back poles at Bathurst since Skaife in 1997-98.

Tander and Will Davison will begin Sunday's 1000km race ahead of TeamVodafone duo Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup, who are chasing an unprecedented fourth straight Bathurst crown.

Ford driver Mark Winterbottom, slapped with a A$5000 ($6185) fine for careless driving following an incident in Saturday's practice session, will start the race third on the grid ahead of rising Holden star Lee Holdsworth.

Stewards hit Winterbottom with a A$15,000 fine in total - $10,000 of which was suspended pending any further incident.

It is the third time this weekend Winterbottom has been involved in similar controversy, with Holden rivals Rick Kelly and Tander believing they were blocked by his car as they attempted to do quick laps on Thursday and Friday.


* Top 10 Shootout

1. Garth Tander (Holden) 2 mins 7.9463 sec

2. Craig Lowndes (Ford) 2:08.2231

3. Mark Winterbottom (Ford) 2:08.2737

4. Lee Holdsworth (Holden) 2:08.4268

5. Jason Richards (Holden) 2:08.5015

6. Shane Van Gisbergen (Ford) 2:08.8159

7. Todd Kelly (Holden) 2:09.8986

8. Paul Dumbrell (Holden) 2:10.1474

9. Russell Ingall (Holden) 2:12.4565

10. Greg Murphy (Holden) 0

- AAP