Greg Murphy says that the feeling of scoring pole position for tomorrow’s Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 cannot be compared to that which he experienced in 2003.
The 39-year-old New Zealander was the sixth man out in this afternoon’s Top 10 Shootout, where his 2:08.80s lap proved good enough for pole as rain curtailed the efforts of yesterday’s fast men.
Murphy’s only other Bathurst pole came in 2003, when he set a 2:06.86s lap that stood as the fastest time by a V8 Supercar at Bathurst until last year.
While today’s result snapped a six year qualifying dry spell for Murphy in the V8 Supercars Championship, the Pepsi Max Crew driver said the achievement cannot be compared to what happened in 2003.
“This pole position was maybe unexpected,” he said of today’s result.
“I’m sure that if anyone put money on us today to be on the top step they would be doing pretty well out of it.
“They (his two Bathurst poles) don’t compare in respect of the laps and how I feel about it, but getting a pole today is absolutely sensational.
“It’s great for the Kellys, getting a pole position at Bathurst, and for our sponsors. We’ve had a sort of rocky year, it hasn’t gone all our way by any means, and I think it is starting to turn around.”
Murphy said he’s at a loss to explain why his Bathurst performances have almost always been strong regardless of his form at other circuits, and was cautious when asked of his chances of taking his fifth Bathurst win tomorrow.
“It’s a special place, and I can’t get enough of it. I loved every second of that lap today, it was just sensational,” said Murphy, who will pair with Dane Allan Simonsen in tomorrow’s race.
“It always seems to work out reasonably well here. Last year was a bit of a struggle but we’ve found it a fair bit easier with this car and we’re fairly comfortable in it.
“We can win tomorrow, absolutely, but so can half a dozen or so other guys, so we have to be realistic about it.”
CLICK HERE for a full report on the Top 10 Shootout.
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