Murphy junior wins first Australian race
Ronan Murphy, son of four-time Bathurst winner Greg, has claimed his first race victory on Australian soil.
Murphy junior, 21, is racing in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge series, which is part of the ladder to the Carrera Cup Championship.
He is racing with Sonic Motor Racing Services, which has produced a number of Aussie racing stars.
Murphy previously raced in Formula Ford and Toyota 86 in his native New Zealand.
He also raced a Porsche in last year's South Island Endurance Series, and was a Team Porsche New Zealand shootout finalist.
Murphy brought home finishes of fifth, fifth and second at the season-opening round at Phillip Island in March.
The Kiwi was on the money from the get-go at Symmons Plains, topping Practice 1 before qualifying fourth.
Countryman Marco Giltrap won Races 1 and 2, with Murphy second and fourth in the two 24-lap sprints.
Murphy was untouchable in Sunday’s 40-lap feature, winning by 4.0204s.
The second-generation driver led the feature, on the NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint undercard, from start to finish.
Grove Racing junior Oscar Targett was second in the race ahead of Tom McLennan, with Giltrap and Hamish Fitzsimmons rounding out the top five.
Lachlan Bloxsom was classified sixth despite crossing the line second, but was slapped with a five-second penalty.
Giltrap won the round by seven points over Murphy.
Greg Murphy won the Great Race in 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2004, and 28 races in the Supercars Championship.
Speaking ahead of his Porsche debut on Aussie soil, Ronan said he was determined to carve his own path racing in Australia.
“I certainly respect everything Dad has done in his time in Australia,” Murphy said.
“I’m here to do my own thing and just do the best I can with what I have and the people around me.
“Just give it 110 per cent, take every opportunity and hopefully we will come out of it successful in the end."
The 2023 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia season continues at Sydney Motorsport Park on July 28-30.
