HRDHSV
10-21-2009, 11:59 AM
From Auto Action Magazine..
Earlier this week an article appeared in a publication known as “AutoAction” that Kiwi driver Greg Murphy may make the unprecidented switch from Holden, which he has driven through-out his entire career, to Ford in a bid to front what is being called a Super Kiwi Team.
For many years there have been little that New Zealand V8 Supercar race fans could cheer on, for the past decade they had Team Kiwi Racing – which went bankrupt earlier this year – and the Kiwi’s had Greg Murphy, however the last two years have seen a number of drivers come from the wilderness to make a name for themselves in the V8 Supercars field.
From Shane van Gisbergen, and Jason Richards, to Fabian Coulthard and Daniel Gaunt, not to mention the fall of Team Kiwi Racing but the rise of Tasman Motorsport which last season saw Greg Murphy team up with Jason Richards in an all-kiwi combination that came second at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.
However rumors were rife earlier this season that Tasman Motorsport was infact losing alot of money, that they would struggle to make the grid come 2010, a position the team has long denied – in what looked to be a replay of the Team Kiwi Racing saga.
It was at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 last weekend, where Greg Murphy and stand in endurance driver Mark Skaife were cruely robbed of their combined tenth Bathurst victory that Tasman Motorsport were in trouble, and not just in trouble they were struggling to make sure they would see out the remainder of the season.
The AutoAction publication, which entered stores on Wednesday, are claiming that Tasman Motorsport in an attempt to save face have approached Paul Cruickshank Racing, a fellow Kiwi, in an attempt to form a two car Ford based outfit which will be nicknamed the Super Kiwi Team.
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm118/HRDHSV/Murphy_ford_sgr_2010-300x109.jpg
Artist Impression - O.Real Designs.
If a merger were to go ahead between the two outfits it would mean two New Zealand team owners, two licenses allowing them to run two cars, the ability to retain Fabian Coulthard who is believed to already be under contract with Paul Cruickshank Racing, as well as the ability to retain Greg Murphy who is under contract with Tasman Motorsport – in which he is one fifth of the ownership panel.
This would see Greg Murphy race in a Ford Falcon, rumored to be prepared by Triple Eight Racing this season before their decision to switch to Holden next year was finalised, after almost two decades racing Holden Commodores.
Despite being the face of Holden in New Zealand it is believed that Murphy would jump ship to the Blue val if a competitive drive was on offer, something he has not had since the K-Mart Racing days where he won three Bathurst events, and a strong competitior for the championship.
Fans are split as to whether they would still support Greg Murphy if he makes the move as both teams remain tight lipped over the current rumors.
Not sure how much truth is in this though I will believe it when I see it... if he does move owning a Murph Edition VZ Clubby wont be so special I think:(
Earlier this week an article appeared in a publication known as “AutoAction” that Kiwi driver Greg Murphy may make the unprecidented switch from Holden, which he has driven through-out his entire career, to Ford in a bid to front what is being called a Super Kiwi Team.
For many years there have been little that New Zealand V8 Supercar race fans could cheer on, for the past decade they had Team Kiwi Racing – which went bankrupt earlier this year – and the Kiwi’s had Greg Murphy, however the last two years have seen a number of drivers come from the wilderness to make a name for themselves in the V8 Supercars field.
From Shane van Gisbergen, and Jason Richards, to Fabian Coulthard and Daniel Gaunt, not to mention the fall of Team Kiwi Racing but the rise of Tasman Motorsport which last season saw Greg Murphy team up with Jason Richards in an all-kiwi combination that came second at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.
However rumors were rife earlier this season that Tasman Motorsport was infact losing alot of money, that they would struggle to make the grid come 2010, a position the team has long denied – in what looked to be a replay of the Team Kiwi Racing saga.
It was at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 last weekend, where Greg Murphy and stand in endurance driver Mark Skaife were cruely robbed of their combined tenth Bathurst victory that Tasman Motorsport were in trouble, and not just in trouble they were struggling to make sure they would see out the remainder of the season.
The AutoAction publication, which entered stores on Wednesday, are claiming that Tasman Motorsport in an attempt to save face have approached Paul Cruickshank Racing, a fellow Kiwi, in an attempt to form a two car Ford based outfit which will be nicknamed the Super Kiwi Team.
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm118/HRDHSV/Murphy_ford_sgr_2010-300x109.jpg
Artist Impression - O.Real Designs.
If a merger were to go ahead between the two outfits it would mean two New Zealand team owners, two licenses allowing them to run two cars, the ability to retain Fabian Coulthard who is believed to already be under contract with Paul Cruickshank Racing, as well as the ability to retain Greg Murphy who is under contract with Tasman Motorsport – in which he is one fifth of the ownership panel.
This would see Greg Murphy race in a Ford Falcon, rumored to be prepared by Triple Eight Racing this season before their decision to switch to Holden next year was finalised, after almost two decades racing Holden Commodores.
Despite being the face of Holden in New Zealand it is believed that Murphy would jump ship to the Blue val if a competitive drive was on offer, something he has not had since the K-Mart Racing days where he won three Bathurst events, and a strong competitior for the championship.
Fans are split as to whether they would still support Greg Murphy if he makes the move as both teams remain tight lipped over the current rumors.
Not sure how much truth is in this though I will believe it when I see it... if he does move owning a Murph Edition VZ Clubby wont be so special I think:(