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Gordon Lomas at Bathurst
09.10.04
GREG Murphy threatens to give rival V8 Supercar drivers a history lesson after taking qualifying by the scruff of the neck and heading the charge in the build-up to the Bob Jane T Marts 1000 at Bathurst tomorrow.
In what is becoming a carbon copy of Murphy's 2003 obliteration of the most challenging endurance race in the 13-round V8 Championship Series, he creamed his qualifying opposition yesterday with a 2min08.09sec lap in his Kmart Commodore.
Fellow Holden racer Jason Bright finished second quickest in the PWR Performance Products Commodore in 2:08.12. It was a close shave but Murphy still clutches the balance of power at the 6.2km circuit.
Steve Richards is third in 2:08.13, giving his co-driver, father Jim Richards, a shot at winning his eighth Bathurst. This would put Richards Sr one behind the record number of wins set by Peter Brock.
Murphy, who with partner Rick Kelly is in the box seat to repeat their 2003 Mt Panorama victory after being quickest in all the lead-up sessions, remains cautious about whether he can emulate the stunning 2:06.85 lap he produced in the Top 10 shootout a year ago.
"The car doesn't feel as good as it was last year and it is struggling a bit for turn-in grip," Murphy said.
"Doing a 2:08 today and then thinking about whether I can find 1.2sec in the shootout to match last year's time is a pretty big call."
Bright, who has been the most consistent qualifier this season, is shaping as one of the strongest threats to unseat Murphy in the Commodore he will share with the Gold Coast's Paul Weel.
But Bright, one of five drivers in with a shot at winning the championship with three rounds remaining after the Bathurst classic, is hamstrung by the fact that the most treacherous race on the calendar is not a stand-alone event.
"It's a shame that Bathurst is a part of the championship because you can't attack it as you would if it wasn't included in the series," said Bright, who won at Bathurst in 1998 but is searching for his maiden Australian touring car championship crown.
Gordon Lomas at Bathurst
09.10.04
GREG Murphy threatens to give rival V8 Supercar drivers a history lesson after taking qualifying by the scruff of the neck and heading the charge in the build-up to the Bob Jane T Marts 1000 at Bathurst tomorrow.
In what is becoming a carbon copy of Murphy's 2003 obliteration of the most challenging endurance race in the 13-round V8 Championship Series, he creamed his qualifying opposition yesterday with a 2min08.09sec lap in his Kmart Commodore.
Fellow Holden racer Jason Bright finished second quickest in the PWR Performance Products Commodore in 2:08.12. It was a close shave but Murphy still clutches the balance of power at the 6.2km circuit.
Steve Richards is third in 2:08.13, giving his co-driver, father Jim Richards, a shot at winning his eighth Bathurst. This would put Richards Sr one behind the record number of wins set by Peter Brock.
Murphy, who with partner Rick Kelly is in the box seat to repeat their 2003 Mt Panorama victory after being quickest in all the lead-up sessions, remains cautious about whether he can emulate the stunning 2:06.85 lap he produced in the Top 10 shootout a year ago.
"The car doesn't feel as good as it was last year and it is struggling a bit for turn-in grip," Murphy said.
"Doing a 2:08 today and then thinking about whether I can find 1.2sec in the shootout to match last year's time is a pretty big call."
Bright, who has been the most consistent qualifier this season, is shaping as one of the strongest threats to unseat Murphy in the Commodore he will share with the Gold Coast's Paul Weel.
But Bright, one of five drivers in with a shot at winning the championship with three rounds remaining after the Bathurst classic, is hamstrung by the fact that the most treacherous race on the calendar is not a stand-alone event.
"It's a shame that Bathurst is a part of the championship because you can't attack it as you would if it wasn't included in the series," said Bright, who won at Bathurst in 1998 but is searching for his maiden Australian touring car championship crown.
