Motorsport: Murph enduring run of bad luck

Greg Murphy says there are no real excuses for his season so far and the team have simply struggled to find their rhythm. Photo / Alan Gibson

It appears iconic Kiwi V8 Supercar driver Greg Murphy's luck isn't about to change any time soon. The four-time Bathurst winner has had the raw end of the stick firmly in his grasp the last season or two, and as of last weekend things don't seem to be getting any better.

On top of a lacklustre 2010 racing season, Murphy can't even go on holiday without something going wrong. While in Fiji during the mid-season break in the V8 Supercar calendar, Murphy popped a disc in his back and had to have surgery to repair the damage. The good news is the surgeon is happy and the prognosis looks good for a full recovery.

"I don't really know how it happened [ruptured disc]. I was on holiday and it just went," said Murphy. "There's no real story behind it unfortunately. The surgeon removed part of the disc and it seems okay. I've been up and around the last few days but I'm taking it easy and just doing a bit of walking."

Murphy has been hankering to get back to the top of his game and was hoping this year would bring a change of fortune. His car has been fast at times this season and there have been flashes of the old Murph but consistency has proved elusive.

"This is just the icing on the cake on what's been a bit of a shitty year if I was being honest. There're no real excuses, and I've made a few bad decisions. The car has been quick out of the box at times but a few things didn't work out how we planned.

"But we just need to get some consistency going," said Murphy.

You just can't keep a good man down, though. After a frustrating year in the Australian V8 Supercar championship, topped off by his back surgery, Murphy is looking for a much-needed fillip. Although doubtful for the upcoming first endurance round at Phillip Island, September 11-12, Murphy is confident he'll be fighting fit for Bathurst and the Gold Coast 600 races.

"Phillip Island is up in the air at the moment but I haven't written it off just yet. If I have to miss Phillip Island as a worst-case scenario, I have no doubt I'll be right for the other two endurance rounds [Bathurst and Gold Coast]," said Murphy.

This year it seemed as though Murphy's season was about to turn the corner, and he and the team were looking to reassert themselves at the sharp end of the field rather than struggling mid-pack.

However, events seemed to conspire to put paid to that idea and with the surgery to his back, Murphy's 2010 season is just about shot.

"We've really struggled this year. It's disappointing," said Murphy.

It's unfortunate but Murphy might have to consign this year's season to the bin and look to starting afresh in 2011. He still has the desire to go racing and knows there's a bit of unfinished business he'd like to tidy up in V8 racing, chief among them is winning a championship.

Murphy is a driver who will never say die and is a crowd favourite in New Zealand and across the ditch in Australia. And don't forget, the Bathurst master still holds the lap record around Mount Panorama and he's itching to have another go at the series next year.

Greg Murphy
* 1994: 2nd Australian Drivers Championship
* 1994: 2nd Australian Formula Brabham Championship
* 1996: 1st, New Zealand Mobil Sprints
* 1996: 1st, Bathurst 1000
* 1997: 2nd, Australian Touring Car Championship
* 1999: 1st, Bathurst 1000
* 2000: 3rd Bathurst 1000
* 2002: 2nd V8 Supercar Championship Series
* 2003: 2nd V8 Supercar Championship Series
* 2003: 1st, Bathurst 1000
* 2003: 1st, Bathurst 24 Hour
* 2004: 1st, Bathurst 1000
* 2008: 2nd, Bathurst 1000