By Bruce Williams
Date posted: August 16, 2022
After a first test in June, Greg Murphy and Richie Stanaway have returned to Winton Motor Raceway alongside Erebus Motorsport for their second wildcard test ahead of this October’s Bathurst 1000.
The Boost-backed #51 Commodore rolled out this morning in the new-look livery unveiled at the Erebus Open Day last Sunday.
Today was the second of three official test days for the Bathurst wildcard, with the third and final test scheduled for Winton on September 28.
With the first June test focused on getting the drivers reacquainted with a Supercar, today’s program saw the Kiwi duo practicing driver changes and continuing to increase their comfort behind the wheel of the Erebus Commodore.
Four-time Bathurst 1000 winner Greg Murphy returns to the field after an eight-year hiatus from racing and three years since stepping into a Supercar, meanwhile Richie Stanaway makes his Supercar comeback since retiring from full-time competition at the end of 2019.
Greg Murphy was all smiles after the second Erebus Boost Mobile Wildcard test day at Winton Raceway
Murphy was pleased and a little more relaxed after the second test day for the team.
“It was just actually a bit of a relief in some respects, because after the first day we ran, I left with the track with more questions and not enough answers.
“We came here for today’s test and it was a much better feeling, it was definitely good having that break in between the tests and letting the brain tick over a little bit and having the time to think about what was good about the first test, and think about what I needed to improve on.” Murphy explained.
“Straight away getting back in the car was a very familiar and I got back to a good sort of feeling very quickly and we made some real progress, so it was good to get that first day out of the way.
“I felt really comfortable in the car, and I really enjoyed the day, we improved and any day you make real progress is a good day.
“Just getting that first day out of the way was important and then it all became a reality, and it confirmed that it was actually happening.
“Now all the anxiousness about being in a Supercar again and being efficient and not struggling is going away. All of those things got ticked off during the day.
“So, coming here today was more of a focus on just trying to fine tune on where we were on the first day. I know I’ve really got to try and change a lot of technique stuff and I have just started to understand where these cars are and how they like to be driven which is so different from what I was used to in the past.
“I’m understanding that more, but still a way to go, but I have enjoyed it. Richie and I have done a heap of laps, the car has been great with no problems.
Richie Stanaway looks the part during the Erebus Boost Mobile Wildcard Test Day 2 at Winton Raceway
“Of course, Winton is no real reference to Bathurst, so we have to be carful not to get caught up as Bathurst is a whole new ballgame. But I think I will feel better when we get to Bathurst.
“I have plenty of reference and the cars work well there so it should come together for us there.” Murphy said.
The Boost backed ‘Wildcard’ entry of Murphy and Stanaway was to have run in the 2021 Bathurst 1000, but New Zealand’s strict COVID 19 border controls stopped the pair from competing last year.
Murphy and Stanaway will join three other ‘Wildcard’ entries including the Supercheap Autos back 888 Racing entry of Craig Lowndes and Declan Fraser, as well as ‘Wildcard’s entered by Anderson Motorsport and the Matt Chahda Motorsport entry of Matt Chahda and 19-year-old Super2 driver Jaylyn Robotham who will drive a WAU prepared Commodore.
The 2022 Bathurst 1000 will run at Mount Panorama from October 6 – 9.
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