Murphy offers theory over Stanaway's form turnaround

Richie Stanaway has powered back into form after a tough start to 2024, and legendary countryman Greg Murphy believes it has come in response to his tap on the shoulder from Penrite Racing.

In late July, Grove Racing announced it would not renew Stanaway for 2025, later signing Super2 champion and Dick Johnson Racing co-driver Kai Allen.

To that point, after ending Round 1 equal fourth in the points, Stanaway had claimed six top 10 finishes in 16 starts, while younger teammate Matt Payne had two pole positions and a race win.

Since the news broke, Stanaway has topped practice sessions in Tasmania and Sandown, was lead Ford for much of the Repco Bathurst 1000, and claimed provisional pole at the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500.

"I'm just happy to see that he is [racing in 2025] since getting I suppose the slap in the face from Groves saying, ‘Well, we don’t want you next year'," Murphy said on the Rusty’s Garage podcast.

"[He was] sort of having to deal with that again and then turn things around and realise that at that moment, 'I’ve got nothing to lose, I need to free up the way I’ve been driving', which he did.

"That was maybe part of the decision process. He became a little bit too concerned at Groves there about performance and he was not allowing his natural ability and natural flow determine the outcome. Once he got released and knowing that he wasn’t going to be driving in '25 at Groves, his performances have got better again.

“He’s been particularly quick in the last little while and got in the Shootout two days running at the Gold Coast. The car didn’t deliver in the race on Saturday at the Gold Coast, it was better on Sunday, but strategically I think the team made a bit of a meal of it. I don’t know why you’d stay out and lose track position like that both days, but anyway, that’s what’s happened."

Stanaway will partner James Golding at PremiAir Nulon Racing, replacing the retiring Tim Slade. Golding sits sixth in the championship in a career-best season, claiming a pole in Darwin and podium at Sandown, both firsts.

Murphy is confident Stanaway can thrive at PremiAir, where the Kiwi will reunite with former Garry Rogers Motorsport teammate Golding.

Both drivers have been on the Supercars scrapheap before, with GRM exiting the category at the end of 2019. Where Golding transitioned into co-driving before joining PremiAir midway through 2022, Stanaway seemed lost to the sport for good.

Stanaway returned with Murphy for a one-off start in the 2022 Bathurst 1000, before winning the Great Race 12 months later with Shane van Gisbergen.

“He’s pretty prepared now for the end of the year and showcasing his speed again and it’s going to be a different environment at PremiAir Racing,” Murphy said.

“Pete Xiberras is very focused, committed, and there’s some great people there and I think that environment alongside Jimmy Golding… he and Matt Payne have been great as teammates, they’ve really enjoyed each other and I think they get on really, really well, but he’ll fall into a really nice relationship again with Jimmy Golding there as a good pair.

“PremiAir have been doing a good job, particularly with Jimmy’s car in the last little while.”

Stanaway's final 2024 starts will come at the season-ending VAILO Adelaide 500 on November 14-17. Tickets for the season finale are on sale now.