Motorsport: Kiwi drivers Greg Murphy and Richie Stanaway thrilled to be back at Bathurst

Greg Murphy. Photo / Photosport

The man who set the 'Lap of the Gods' at Mount Panorama is teaming up with one of the most gifted and misunderstood racers in recent years to take on the Great Race in October.

Four-time Bathurst winner Greg Murphy is set to share a car with former Toyota Racing Series and German Formula 3 champion Richie Stanaway. The Kiwi duo will be racing at the Bathurst 1000 for an Erebus Motorsport wildcard entry.

Murphy left Supercars in 2014 and this will be his 23rd Bathurst start having won in 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2004. The Kiwi has kept his hand in racing in different categories over the years, most recently in this year's New Zealand Grand Prix at Hampton Downs.

The icing on the cake for Murphy is he'll have his favourite number painted on the side of the car.

"All of a sudden here's a group of people who are wanting and willing to make this happen," said Murphy.

"The number 51 has become a signature that has been associated with me and my career for quite some time so it will be cool to bring it back.

"I'm very fortunate and lucky to be presented with the opportunity to go back and race at a place that means so much to me.

"It's going to be fun to go back and reminisce on some of the stories and memories that we've had in the past and I'm looking forward to the journey."

While Murphy spent most of his time racing Supercars and has been out of the game for a while, Stanaway on the other hand last raced in 2019, but was a relative newcomer to Supercars. He spent most of his shortened career racing single seaters up to and including GP2, and then sportscars in the World Endurance Championship.

A massive accident 2012 derailed his rising single seater career, and unhappy with the politics in the WEC he headed back home in 2016. He was signed up as a co-driver at Tickford Racing and won the Sandown 500 with Cameron Waters in 2017.

Stanaway had arrived at Supercars, and looked like the next big thing. However, the honeymoon was short lived and for various reasons he was gone after announcing his retirement.

"After 23 years of strapping the helmet on I feel like it's time to finally call it a day," he said in 2019.

"I never would have predicted my racing career to be so short and it's not a decision that I've taken lightly.

"I got further than I could have ever imagined I would and I can't thank everyone enough that has been a part of the journey. Time to start a new chapter."

Now, he's back.

"Murph has always been a big inspiration of mine and driving with Murph is one of the big reasons why I want to come back," said Stanaway.

"It's cool to have someone of his calibre back in the car at the biggest race of the year."