Photo: motorsport.org.nz

Greg Murphy and Chris van der Drift joins TCR New Zealand grid

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Racing legend Greg Murphy, who has won the Bathurst 1000 four times, is going to join the sole TCR New Zealand championship race of 2021 at the Highlands Motorsport Park, with Chris van der Drift as team-mate.

“I love jumping into new things and having a go. It’s a great category for emerging drivers and I’m keen to be involved,” said Murphy.

The Kiwi is going to drive an Audi RS 3 LMS for Track Tec Racing and while he has driven the circuit before, racing a TCR car will be new to him.

“I’ve done a few laps there and love the circuit. In a TCR car I expect that it will get pretty full-on and busy, but should offer up some really good racing, so I’m fortunate to be involved,” said Murphy.

Murphy drove his last full V8 Supercars season in 2012 and has since then taken part in various touring car and GT races in Australia and New Zealand.

Also joining the Highlands Motorsport Park grid is Chris van der Drift as team-mate to Murphy at Track Tec Racing.

“It will be the first time I have jumped into a front-wheel-drive race car,” said van der Drift.

“Also, Highlands is one of the tracks that I haven’t raced on. That doesn’t really matter because I am going there to win anyway.”

The New Zealander has raced various GT and single seater championships internationally before, claiming the 2008 Formula Masters title and the 2015, 17 and 18 Porsche Carrera Cup Asia titles.

“Normally I would be overseas, so it is really great to be able to race something in New Zealand. It should be quite a cool competition to be involved in,” said van der Drift.