Murphy details 'massive' car change

Greg Murphy says he is “struggling to adapt” to the “massive” changes in cars since his last Bathurst start.

Murphy, who will race an Erebus wildcard at in October, last raced in Bathurst in 2014.

The 49-year-old has driven a number of Supercars in the years since, notably a DJR Team Penske Mustang in 2019.

However, he was left wide-eyed in his first laps in anger in nearly a decade at a recent test at Winton.

Murphy was on hand at Erebus headquarters to launch the wildcard livery on Sunday.

There, the four-time Bathurst winner detailed just how big a challenge he faces getting ready for October.

“Massive,” he said when asked about car evolution since his last start.

“I was warned about it, everyone talking about how they’ve evolved.

“Until you actually drive them and believe it, it’s hard to explain.

“The concept of them is similar, but it’s the way the teams have managed to develop them and extract speed in a different way.

“The way you have to drive into the corners mainly is phenomenal. My brain is struggling to adapt to that.

“But it was comfortable to drive, I can understand how you can extract the speed.

“It’s just getting that muscle memory to adapt to it and make it work.”

Murphy will race with Richie Stanaway, who last raced a Supercar in 2019.

Both drivers may seem green on paper, but both managed to find comfort at the Winton test in June.

Murphy and Stanaway will both return to the seat of the #51 Boost Mobile Commodore at Winton on Tuesday.

Car evolution in the eight years since Murphy’s last start has come in the form of increased aerodynamic performance.

That has affected how Murphy drives the car, especially with cornering.

The Kiwi legend is adamant he’ll be ready come October 6, with Erebus hosting a final test day next month.

However, Murphy reiterated the best medicine for getting up to shape is being in the car.

“It’s a challenge, it really is,” he continued.

“I don’t think driving race cars, I haven’t done that for eight years.

“I’ve had to get the brain trying to be some sort of race car driver.

“I had intentions of spending hours on the sim… but nothing can substitute driving the real thing.

“Tuesday will be great to spend some more time on it and trying to understand how to extract that speed."

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