Motorsport: Murphy win helps prove a point

Greg Murphy. Photo / Geoff Ridder

What 18 months ago was an idea came to fruition at the weekend when the new V8 SuperTourers category hit the Hampton Downs racetrack in anger for the first time.

The schism in New Zealand V8 racing has polarised various factions, but at least the fans were treated to a great weekend's racing.

Australian V8 Supercar driver Greg Murphy showed why he is still well respected as driver by winning the inaugural V8 SuperTourer round from Kayne Scott and Jonny Reid.

Murphy arrived back home for his first domestic season in 15 years and had a point to prove to the local drivers. In a nutshell, he needed to win.

"I couldn't avoid the double-edged sword that I had to win or end up looking like an idiot," said Murphy after winning race one of the weekend.

"I have, though, been blown away by how fast everybody is and that's testament to how good the car is. It's going to create great racing and great competitiveness all through the field. It's great to get the first-round win done."

Murphy has more competitive racing kilometres under his belt than most drivers. After winning race two yesterday morning he was odds-on to clean sweep the weekend, just as he did during his time in the Australian V8 Supercars at Pukekohe.

Motor racing, however, is a fickle mistress and early in race three it appeared the drivers had decided to throw earlier caution to the winds and pull the pin.

The first racing incident involved Murphy and race leader Kayne Scott and resulted in a drive-through penalty for Murphy.

"It all sort of went pear-shaped for me when Kayne and I came together. I hit him from behind, so my fault, and the drive-through penalty put a bit of a damper on things really," said Murphy.

"And then after the safety car came out it all went crazy. I made a few positions up, then ran wide then passed a few again."

Murphy had hauled himself back into the top half of the field only for another safety car incident. At the front of the field Reid again had a commanding lead but that all soon changed.

"That restart was a disaster. The rules need looking at. It caused massive problems for Jonny Reid, who had been doing a great job up front until then.

"It was out of control, I got turned around and got going again ... It might be good for TV but there's a fair amount of car damage to be sorted by a number of teams."

When the chequered flag finally came out Ant Pedersen crossed the line ahead of John McIntyre and Scott McLaughlin with Murphy coming home in eighth.