Kmart Racers stick with Spider-man for Tasmanian Trek
26/11/2004 21:41 (Press Release) -
Why change a winning formula? That’s the approach Kmart Racing’s Greg Murphy and Rick Kelly are taking into this weekend’s 11th round of the V8 Supercar Championship Series at Symmons Plains Raceway in Tasmania as the team aims for its third successive round victory.
After first appearing on the team’s VY Commodores at Bathurst as part of Kmart’s October Amazing Toy Sale promotion, the team elected to leave the Spider-Man 2 stickers on the car and Murphy went on to win again at Indy.
Considering that most things happen in threes, the webbed superhero will again join the duo for the Tasmanian round despite it not being originally part of the promotional plan.
“Our focus is on winning races at this time of year rather than getting caught up in worrying about championships,” said Murphy, who last raced at Symmons Plains the last time V8 Supercars raced there in 1999.
“Spider-Man has been a great addition to the car over the past two races and created a lot of interest. If he can bring us three in a row he can stay hang around on my car for as long as he likes!”
Murphy sits in third spot in the championship, a position not even he could have forecast being in after a difficult middle part of the season.
“There was a time midway through the season where things just weren’t clicking,” says the Kiwi.
“But winning at Bathurst and Indy have put us right back at the front and in a position to capitalise on anything that may happen.”
Kelly, meanwhile, still sits fourth in the championship chase despite a tough weekend at the last round on the Gold Coast. He has never raced at the Tasmanian venue in a V8 Supercar, let alone any of the junior categories, but doesn’t see it as a major disadvantage.
“I know which way the circuit goes and it’s been five years since the cars raced there, so any of the data on the tyres and the like that has been collected in the past is pretty much useless for 2004,” said Kelly.
“There are a lot of other drivers in the same boat. It’s an interesting track and having such a tight hairpin is sure to make the first lap one to watch.
“It’s been a tough time since Indy and what happened up there. I’m firmly focused on doing the best job I can do in Tasmania, yet still racing hard and fair.”
Murphy has made two starts at Symmons Plains in a V8 Supercar. He tasted victory in the wet 1997 event driving for the Holden Racing Team and won a race and finished fourth overall in a Gibson Commodore in 1999.
The Symmons Plains round will be run over three races at the 2.41-kilometre venue, each of 100-kilometres (42 laps). Teams will have to make a compulsory tyre change in each race.
The Tasmania Triple Challenge will be shown on Network Ten this weekend, with coverage from 3.30pm to 5.00pm on Saturday and 2.30pm to 5.00pm on Sunday.
The Spider-Man 2 DVD featured on the Kmart Commodores this weekend will be on sale in all Kmart stores from its release on November 17.
Release Date: 08/11/2004
K-Mart Racing
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