the consistency to fight for the title.
“We had some good results but, like so many teams,
we were making up the numbers,” he says.
“You want to be winning a championship, that’s the
whole point of it, and not being in the position where
you feel you can do that is difficult.”
A move to the newly-formed Kmart Racing in 2001
brought an upswing in form but also plenty of close-but-
no-cigar championship results (fourth in 2001, second
in 2002 and 2003, fourth in 2004). And, at Bathurst
in 2002, the famous five-minute penalty for a fuel spill
and his subsequent Portaloo sulk. It’s something he can
laugh at now.
“It’s added to the story, hasn’t it?” he says. “I’d have
preferred it to be Todd (Kelly) and I winning adding
to the story but that’s not the way it worked out. But
anyway, that’s the way it was.
“I was very passionate about the whole thing and Isuppose that’s something I’ve been known for – losing
my shit and not handling things very well – but I’m not
the only one!”THE GOLDEN YEARS
Of course, Murphy would more than make up for his
2002 Bathurst disappointment with his ‘Lap of the
Gods’ qualifying lap of 2003 and victory the next day
in one of the most dominant performances ever seen
at the Mountain. The following year he and teammate
Rick Kelly would go on to score a rare double, taking his
Bathurst-win tally to four.
Looking back, Murphy reckons those 2002 demons –
and a very public expunging of them ahead of the race- played a crucial part in what is now seen by many as
his career-defining performance.
“I think, subliminally, my performance had a lot to do
with wanting to get revenge but we took the piss out of
the whole thing,” he says.
“That weekend was the pinnacle; I’ve never experi-
enced emotion and feelings quite like it. And the other
thing is, how many sportspeople get the opportunity to
experience something like that? You only understand
the significance after more and more time. To be a part
of something that people have respect for, talk about
and have memories about, it’s incredibly humbling and
very special.”
Then there was Murphy’s incredible record on home
soil at Pukekohe: nine race wins from 2001 to 2005.
“It’s a bit funny, isn’t it? It’s always been a highlight
of my results and trying to understand why is interest-
ing,” he reflects.
“Why did it come together on those weekends more
than most? I don’t really know but I had incredible
support and it’s an amazing feeling when you feel the
people’s energy directed towards you, it’s something
else.”
ABOVE: Lowndes’ return
from Europe left the
Holden Racing Team with
a dilemma in terms of its
driver line-up for 1998.
BELOW: Murphy took victory
at the Mallala round in
South Australia, one of three
round wins in 1997.
“YOU WANT TO BE WINNING A CHAMPIONSHIP, THAT’S THE WHOLE POINT
OF IT, AND NOT BEING IN THE POSITION WHERE YOU FEEL YOU CAN DO
THAT IS DIFFICULT.” – GREG MURPHY