Greg Murphy

Greg Murphy is a real mystery – a driver with an extraordinary career at Bathurst, including the pole in 2003 and his four wins on the Mount Panorama track. He’s a household name in Oceania, capable of attracting the biggest sponsors but he has never won the title and even worse, his form has tarnished these past few years.

He earns his spot on this list because he is a larger than life personality and has done so much to grow the popularity of the V8 Supercars. He made a name for himself in open wheel racing in the 1990’s before turning to touring cars. He made his Bathurst debut in 1994, but it wasn’t until 1996 that he burst onto the scene. While not being a regular in the championship, he was signed by HRT to race alongside the defending series champion, Craig Lowndes. And it paid off with the pole and win at Sandown and 2nd on the grid and the win at Bathurst. When Lowndes left for Europe in 1997, Murphy got a full-time ride and was team mate to Aussie legend Peter Brock.

His first season was much like career with wins at Symmons Plains, Mallala, Oran Park and Sandown but also disappointments with a 14th place finish at Eastern Creek and a DNF at Bathurst. Murphy finished fourth in points. With the return of Lowndes and the arrival of Mark Skaife in 1998, the New Zealand driver was without a drive.

Following two seasons at Gibson Motorsport, his career took off with four strong seasons from 2001-2004. He rediscovered the HRT environment via Kmart Racing. No one will forget Bathurst 2003 when he took his legendary pole, (the famous ‘Lap of the Gods’ with a time of 2’06.859 that was applauded by everyone up and down the pit lane, (which wasn’t surpassed until Craig Lowndes went quicker during practice for the 2010 edition) and the win with Rick Kelly. They came back in 2004 for a repeat performance, making it four wins in eight years on, arguably, the greatest circuit in the world.

All that was left was to win the title: it looked as if it was going to happen in 2003 where he was up against Marcos Ambrose. But inexplicably, during the season finale at Eastern Creek, where the Tasmanian native was the man to beat, Murphy finished 23rd in race one and was a forfeit for race two with back injury.

This perhaps signed “Murph’s” fate as a race winner driver but not a champion. He will race for Kelly Racing in 2011 and has some unfinished business to attend to.