Rookie Murray explains 'costly' Bathurst limiter penalty

Cooper Murray has explained the "costly” error that brought his maiden Repco Bathurst 1000 undone, which came after a stunning debut performance by the rising star.

Murray and Craig Lowndes looked set to bring home an impressive top 10 in Sunday's Great Race after the rookie charged through the field.

However, Murray was hit with a drive-through penalty over a Safety Car breach, having failed to activate the 80km/h limiter within the 25-second countdown.

Where a top 10 seemed a certainty, Murray was forced to pit and came home 14th.

The stewards report reads:

During the Safety Car deployment, the limiter on Car 888 was not activated within the prescribed 25 second period and Car 888 exceeded the 80kph limit after the 25 second grace period had expired. The Stewards imposed a PLP on Car 888 for a breach of Rule D10.1.3.2.

Speaking after the race, the young Victorian said he thought he had hit the limiter button, slowed down, but ultimately missed it, and exceeded the speed limit.

“It's an unfortunate end to what was a really good day,” Murray said on Supercars.com’s Schick Cool Down Lap podcast.

"I went below the 80ks and thought I'd engaged a button, but unfortunately it wasn't. So then I've sped back up to 90 and had to slam the brakes again, back down to 80 and re-engage it.

"So a small costly of the error, but you live and you learn.”

Regardless, Murray was delighted by his own performance, which could be a taste of what's to come when he debuts with Erebus Motorsport in 2025.

After stunning with a debut Shootout appearance in Darwin, Murray impressed at Sandown in holding off Cam Waters, and reeled off overtake after overtake on Sunday.

"It sort of just came natural, to be honest,” Murray said.

"Like, ever since I'd come into the field at Darwin, it just sort of came naturally. I've sort of felt like I've already been racing the series for so long.

"I've been so invested in it since I was a little kid. I know every driver, I know what they do, what they're like, what they think. So when I jumped into the Supercars category, I just felt at home.”

The 2024 Repco Supercars Championship will resume at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 on October 25-27. Tickets for the event are on sale now.