Four-time Bathurst 1000 winner Greg Murphy is coming out of retirement to compete at this year's event, seven years after last competing in the iconic Australian motorsport event at Mt Panorama.
It will be the 48 year old's 23rd Bathurst 1000 start, scoring wins in 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2004, although his most famous Bathurst moment was his Lap of the Gods qualifying effort in 2003.
Fellow New Zealander Richie Stanaway, 29, will join him as co-driver. Stanaway is also coming out of retirement for a fifth Bathurst start.
Murphy and Stanaway will compete in the Erebus Sport Holden Commodore #51 - the number Murphy had from 2001-2012.
Greg Murphy (R) and co driver Rick Kelly on the podium after winning Bathurst for the second year in a row.2004. Photo: © Sport the library, All rights reserved
"I'm very fortunate and lucky to be presented with the opportunity to go back and race at a place that means so much to me," said Murphy.
The announcement comes after months of speculation that Murphy may make a return intially prompted by Peter Adderton, the chief executive of team sponsor Boost Mobile.
"Originally the idea was a bit tongue-in-cheek, but the fan reaction has been incredible, so I wanted to make this team happen for them (the fans)," Adderton said.
"I got on the phone to Greg and Richie and although they initially weren't interested, it didn't take too long for them to see what we were trying to do and for them to change their minds.
Greg Murphy and Richie Stanaway Photo: Supplied
"I've engineered Greg before and worked with him really closely. He's basically a motorsport god in New Zealand but he's also got a lot of passionate Aussie fans as well so it will be cool to see how they react to the news," said Erebus Motorsport's Barry Ryan.
"Both drivers know how to drive a race car and we'll make sure we give them some good testing and that they're comfortable in the car before we get to the Mountain."
Stanaway said Murphy's involvement made it hard for him to turn down.
"Murph has always been a big inspiration of mine and driving with Murph is one of the big reasons why I want to come back.
"It's cool to have someone of his calibre back in the car at the biggest race of the year."
-RNZ
