Murphy enjoying the challenge of Bathurst training

Greg Murphy’s preparation for his return to the Bathurst 1000 later this year has seen him push himself to new physical and mental limits.

The four-time winner of the race has been improving his fitness with several visits to his local Hawkes Bay gym each week.

Murphy’s return as a wildcard entry with Erebus Motorsport and Richie Stanaway will be his first competitive race in a Supercar in seven years.

Now 48, Murphy would have turned 49 come to Bathurst, and his body is perhaps past its prime.

However, he is relishing the challenge of pushing himself physically and mentally to prepare for October’s race.

“[The gym] has everything you need,” Murphy said on his second Back to Bathurst Episode.

“[It has] similar tools that I was using way back when I was a bit more focused on training when I was full-time racing.

“That was a long time ago, and I had amazing trainers back then too, and what we are doing here with the guys is very similar stuff.

“So, we are back to a lot of core stuff, making sure we are focused on the right posture and using the right muscles.

“I’m enjoying it because after I finished up full-time and also co-driving, I let all that stuff go.

“Now that we are back into it, it feels great to be pushed and guided and making sure you are doing everything right.”

Murphy begun his Bathurst training one month ago, and he agrees there is still a lot of work left to do before he steps foot into the car.

“I’m back to the stage of going through the pain threshold again, and I think we’re only getting started,” he said.

“Plenty to go, plenty still to do.

“But getting the work done is the big thing.”

Murphy says sticking to his preparation plan is a significant advantage.

He believes that the satisfaction gained from his gym training bolsters his self-confidence heading into the race.

“It is so important at the end of it all to know that you have done the work.

“Mentally, that is a huge thing to have.

“Just knowing that you put the effort in behind the scenes outside the car to be as good as you can be inside the car.

“That maybe separates a big part of some doubtful thinking that you might have.”

The 2021 Bathurst 1000 is scheduled for October 7-10.