Greg Murphy

Greg Murphy
Greg Murphy during the 2022 Bathurst 1000
Greg Murphy
Born	Gregory David Murphy 23 8, 1972
Birthplace	New Zealand
Nationality	New Zealand
Occupation	Professional racing driver
Known for	Four-time winner of the Bathurst 1000
Website	[http://www.murph.co.nz/ Official site]

Gregory David Murphy (born 23 August 1972), commonly known as Greg Murphy or by his nickname "Murph", is a New Zealand professional racing driver who built one of the most accomplished careers in Australasian touring car racing. He is best known as a four-time winner of the Bathurst 1000, one of the most prestigious endurance races in motorsport, making him one of only a small group of drivers to have achieved that distinction. Over a career spanning more than two decades, Murphy competed in 448 V8 Supercars championship races, recording 28 wins, 81 podium finishes, and 13 pole positions. Beyond the V8 Supercars championship, Murphy also competed in the V8 SuperTourer series in New Zealand from 2012 to 2014, driving for M3 Racing and claiming the series championship in both 2013 and 2014. Murphy also gained wider public recognition when he joined Jeremy Clarkson and James May as a presenter for Top Gear Live during its first international live show held in Auckland in 2009, returning for the show again in 2010.

Early Life

Gregory David Murphy was born on 23 August 1972 in New Zealand. Details of his early childhood and family background are not extensively documented in available sources. Murphy developed an interest in motorsport from a young age, and New Zealand's robust grassroots racing culture provided a pathway for aspiring drivers. He progressed through the junior ranks of New Zealand motorsport, building the foundational skills that would later serve him in touring car racing at the highest levels.

Murphy's early racing career in New Zealand was successful enough to earn recognition from the national motorsport governing body. He was awarded the MotorSport New Zealand Gold Star, one of the country's premier motorsport honours given to outstanding competitors. This recognition signalled his potential as a driver capable of competing internationally, and it was the Australian touring car scene — particularly the V8 Supercars championship — that would become the arena for his greatest achievements.

Career

V8 Supercars Championship

Greg Murphy's career in the V8 Supercars Championship, Australia's premier touring car racing series, extended across many seasons and saw him compete against some of the most accomplished drivers in the category's history. Over the course of his V8 Supercars career, Murphy accumulated 448 race starts, securing 28 race wins, 81 podium finishes, 13 pole positions, and 11 fastest laps. While he did not claim the overall championship title, his consistency and race-winning ability established him as one of the leading competitors in the series.

Murphy drove for several teams during his V8 Supercars career. In the later stages of his time in the series, he joined Kelly Racing, partnering with the Pepsi brand as a team sponsor. The announcement of Murphy's move to Kelly Racing was covered by the V8 Supercars organisation, reflecting the significance of the driver's market value and profile within the sport. He also had an association with Erebus Motorsport, one of the teams listed in his V8 Supercars career record.

Throughout his championship career, Murphy was recognised as a driver with particular skill on certain circuits, especially Mount Panorama at Bathurst, where his performances became the stuff of legend in Australian motorsport.

Bathurst 1000

The Bathurst 1000 — a 1,000-kilometre endurance race held annually at the Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst, New South Wales — is the event most closely associated with Greg Murphy's name. Murphy won the race on four occasions, placing him among the most successful drivers in the event's storied history.

Murphy's four victories at Bathurst cemented his status as one of the race's greats. The Bathurst 1000 is considered the most important event on the Australian touring car calendar, and drivers who win it multiple times occupy a special place in the sport's hierarchy.

"Murphy's Lap" — 2003 Qualifying

One of the most celebrated individual performances in Bathurst 1000 history, and arguably the single most famous moment of Murphy's career, came during qualifying for the 2003 race. Murphy set a qualifying lap time that became known colloquially as "Murphy's Lap" — a term that entered the lexicon of Australian and New Zealand motorsport fans.

On 23 November 2003, Murphy completed a qualifying lap of Mount Panorama that was extraordinary in its speed and precision. The lap was recorded in the official results of the event. The performance was so remarkable that it was widely discussed in motorsport media and among fans, and footage of the lap has been viewed extensively online. The qualifying time stood as a benchmark at Mount Panorama, and the lap itself became a defining moment not just for Murphy but for the Bathurst 1000 as an event. The sheer audacity of the lap — the commitment through the high-speed sections of the mountain circuit, the precision under braking, and the sustained speed over the full 6.213-kilometre circuit — made it a reference point for subsequent generations of V8 Supercars drivers.

The 2003 event results confirm Murphy's participation and his qualifying performance. The lap has been preserved in video form and remains one of the most-watched pieces of motorsport footage from Australia and New Zealand.

V8 SuperTourer Series

Following his long career in the V8 Supercars Championship in Australia, Murphy returned to racing in New Zealand through the V8 SuperTourer series, a touring car championship that ran in the early 2010s. Murphy competed in the series from 2012 to 2014, driving the number 51 car for M3 Racing.

Murphy's performances in the V8 SuperTourer series were dominant. Over the course of 157 race starts, he recorded 28 wins, 13 pole positions, and 11 fastest laps. He claimed the championship title in both 2013 and 2014, finishing first in the overall standings in consecutive seasons. These results confirmed that Murphy's abilities remained at a high level even as he competed later in his career and in a different series environment from the Australian V8 Supercars championship.

The V8 SuperTourer series provided Murphy with an opportunity to compete on home soil and to continue racing at a professional level. His success in the championship added to his already substantial record of achievements in touring car racing.

Return to Bathurst

Murphy's connection to the Bathurst 1000 extended well beyond his active years as a full-time V8 Supercars competitor. He participated in the 2022 Bathurst 1000, as documented by a photograph taken during that event, demonstrating his enduring relationship with the race that had defined much of his career.

His return to Bathurst in later years reflected both the endurance-racing format of the event — which traditionally pairs experienced drivers with co-drivers — and Murphy's ongoing standing in the motorsport community. The Bathurst 1000 has historically welcomed returning champions and experienced campaigners, and Murphy's presence at the event continued to draw attention from fans and media.

Top Gear Live

In February 2009, Murphy expanded his public profile beyond the racing circuit when he joined Jeremy Clarkson and James May as a presenter for Top Gear Live, the live touring show based on the BBC television programme Top Gear. The event was held at the ASB Showgrounds in Auckland from 12 to 15 February 2009, marking the first international iteration of the Top Gear Live show outside the United Kingdom. Murphy's participation as a local co-presenter provided the show with a connection to New Zealand's motorsport culture and gave him exposure to a broader entertainment audience.

Murphy returned to the Top Gear Live show when it came back to New Zealand in 2010, reprising his role alongside the British presenters. His involvement in the show demonstrated the crossover appeal he had developed as a racing driver, combining his driving credentials with an ability to engage a mainstream audience in a live entertainment format.

Personal Life

Greg Murphy has maintained a public profile in New Zealand and Australia primarily through his motorsport career. Details of his personal life beyond racing are not extensively documented in available sources. He has been based in New Zealand and has maintained an official website at murph.co.nz throughout his career, which has served as a primary point of contact between the driver and his fanbase.

Murphy's nickname "Murph" became widely used by fans and media throughout his career, reflecting the familiarity and affection with which he was regarded in the motorsport community. His connection to both New Zealand and Australian motorsport gave him a binational profile that few drivers from either country have achieved to the same degree.

Recognition

MotorSport New Zealand Gold Star

Murphy received the MotorSport New Zealand Gold Star, one of the most significant honours in New Zealand motorsport, recognising his achievements as a racing driver. The award is given annually to outstanding New Zealand motorsport competitors.

Bathurst 1000 Record

Murphy's four victories at the Bathurst 1000 placed him among the most successful drivers in the history of the event. The official V8 Supercars records list him alongside a select group of multiple winners. His qualifying lap at the 2003 Bathurst 1000 — "Murphy's Lap" — remains one of the most celebrated individual performances in the history of Australian motorsport, recorded in the official times and records of the event.

V8 SuperTourer Championships

Murphy's back-to-back championship victories in the V8 SuperTourer series in 2013 and 2014 added to his list of honours, demonstrating sustained competitiveness across different racing categories and eras.

Media Recognition

Murphy's selection as a co-presenter for the inaugural international Top Gear Live show in 2009 reflected his standing as one of the most recognisable motorsport figures in the Australasian region. His association with the globally popular Top Gear brand introduced him to audiences beyond the traditional motorsport fanbase.

Legacy

Greg Murphy's legacy in Australasian touring car racing is built primarily on his four Bathurst 1000 victories and his qualifying lap at the 2003 event. The Bathurst 1000 occupies a central place in Australian and New Zealand motorsport culture, and drivers who achieve success at the race are accorded lasting recognition. Murphy's four wins at Mount Panorama place him in an exclusive group, and his name is synonymous with the event to an extent matched by only a handful of other drivers.

"Murphy's Lap" — the qualifying performance at the 2003 Bathurst 1000 — has taken on a significance that extends beyond its immediate competitive context. The lap has been preserved in video form and continues to be viewed by new generations of motorsport fans, serving as both a benchmark of driving skill at Mount Panorama and a cultural touchstone for the Bathurst 1000. The official records of the event maintained by V8 Supercars confirm the exceptional nature of the time set by Murphy on that occasion.

Murphy's career statistics in the V8 Supercars Championship — 448 starts, 28 wins, 81 podiums, 13 poles, and 11 fastest laps — represent a body of work accumulated over many seasons of competition at the highest level of Australian touring car racing. His subsequent success in the V8 SuperTourer series, where he claimed two consecutive championships, demonstrated an ability to adapt and compete effectively in different racing environments.

As a New Zealander who achieved sustained success in Australian motorsport, Murphy also represents a tradition of trans-Tasman motorsport migration that has produced a number of significant careers. His profile in both countries, maintained through decades of competition and media appearances including the Top Gear Live shows, gave him a reach that extended across the Australasian motorsport landscape.

Murphy's ongoing association with the Bathurst 1000, including his participation in the 2022 event, underscores the enduring nature of his connection to the race and the esteem in which he continues to be held within the sport.