One of the most incredible Supercars Bathurst 1000 wildcard campaigns has been confirmed; Kiwis Greg Murphy and Richie Stanaway to team up with Boost Mobile in an Erebus Motorsport Holden ZB Commodore with the famed number 51 on the window.
The announcement follows a curious series of events that saw two drivers who some never thought would return to Supercars sign on for another tilt.
Following the wildcard announcement of Russell Ingall and Broc Feeney, Boost Mobile CEO Peter Adderton posted on social media interest in launching his own wildcard with Murphy and Stanaway. The post was tongue-in-cheek, but led to real subsequent talks with both drivers and ultimately today’s announcement.
Murphy retired from full-time Supercars competition quietly at the end of 2012 following a difficult year battling injury. Stanaway meanwhile followed suit at the end of the 2019 season, following his own injuries and a sudden snap announcement at the series finale.
Murphy hasn’t competed at the Bathurst 1000 since 2014, following a ‘what if’ two seasons with the Holden Racing Team as a co-driver. He’s since competed in other events outside of Supercars, including the NZ Grand Prix and the Battle of Jacks Ridge.
Stanaway, meanwhile, left the sport cold turkey following his 2019 decision. The young Kiwi, once a Formula 1 prospect, has been largely underground in the years following.
“All of a sudden here’s a group of people who are wanting and willing to make this happen,” Murphy said. “I’m very fortunate and lucky to be presented with the opportunity to go back and race at a place that means so much to me.””The number 51 has become a signature that has been associated with me and my career for quite some time so it will be cool to bring it back.
“Peter [Adderton] played a significant role in how I came to be a full-time professional race car driver and now we are back here doing this together. Barry [Ryan, ] and I have worked together several times and we have a great respect for each other. It’s going to be fun to go back and reminisce on some of the stories and memories that we’ve had in the past and I’m looking forward to the journey.”
“At first I didn’t think Pete was being serious, like a lot of people but then he reached out to me,” Stanaway said. “I’ve had a really good relationship with Boost, it’s been great to have a sponsor that’s supported me and believed in me.
“I’m really grateful for their support and I’m glad we’re going ahead with it because I’m really looking forward to it. Murph has always been a big inspiration of mine and driving with Murph is one of the big reasons why I want to come back. It’s cool to have someone of his calibre back in the car at the biggest race of the year.
“Erebus are a team I’ve always admired, and they’ve done a great job over the past few years so I’m really looking forward to seeing what it’s all like from the inside.”