New Zealand motor racing legend Greg Murphy has officially ruled himself out of this year’s Bathurst 1000.
Murphy, a four-time winner of The Great Race, was set to link up with fellow Kiwi Richie Stanaway as part of Boost Mobile Racing.
The pair will miss after they were unable to reach today’s deadline, where it was hoped they would be granted a MIQ quarantine placement while also securing a return to New Zealand following the race.
“I can’t explain how frustrating it has been not being able to put our plan into action,” Murphy said in a statement.
“I know it’s not the most important thing in the world and COVID has impacted so many people in far more serious ways, but Richie and I were really looking forward to doing this and the effort that has gone into the prep of the car and behind the scenes has been enormous.
“We have played by the same rules as every other person trying to get a spot in MIQ and most have better reasons than we do for getting a spot and that is the way it is. It’s a lottery and our numbers haven’t come up.
“Boost Mobile Racing has been remarkable throughout. Peter’s vision and the investment in this idea, the car and everything that goes into entering a car in Bathurst is significant, and I hope that we can repay the faith and the support of racing fans by looking ahead to 2022.”
Murphy, 49, was hoping to make his return to the Bathurst 1000 for the first in seven years.
He last raced at The Great Race in 2014 with co-driver James Courtney, finishing 13th that year.
“I want to thank everyone who has been involved behind the scenes for several months now in our attempt to be able to not just bring Greg and Richie over to Australia, but ensure they can then safely return home,” said Boost Mobile Founder Peter Adderton.
“We are a people-driven company and we ultimately could not ask Greg and Richie to come over here in good conscience knowing we had no clear timeline for their return to New Zealand.
“We did everything within our means to make this happen and I am so bitterly disappointed that it is not to be. I also want to thank the many fans who have reached out both publicly and privately not just to express their support but also to see how they could help. It shows just how special this would have been, which is why we will do everything possible to make this happen in 2022 instead.”
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