Greg Murphy's name, synonymous with circuit racing, is about to be muddied, as he takes a slippery slide into the realm of gravel.
Murphy makes his rally debut in Christchurch this weekend.
The four-time Bathurst 1000 winner has entered the Canterbury Rally and will compete in the historic class, driving a borrowed Ford Escort Mk 1.
Having fine-tuned a race career on tarmac, Murphy has always had a hankering to try his hand at rallying.
''It's something I've wanted to do for some time. I've always loved rallying. I love following and watching it and now want to give it a go.''
He is teaming up with Christchurch co-driver Jim Hewlett, who may be able to give him some local knowledge pointers throughout the 10-stage, 171km New Zealand Rally Championship) event, held solely on Ashley and Okuku forestry roads.
The Stadium Motorsport Team will take care of the maintenance on his Escort - provided by team owner and Christchurch businessman Tony Gosling - leaving Murphy to focus on the unfamiliar driving task at hand.
''I don't know a lot [about rallying] so I don't have any preconceived ideas,'' Murphy said.
''I need to work it out and try and learn as I go. I'm keen to get started and see what it's all about.''
Don't expect Murphy to be taking on the NZRC frontrunners the way World Rally Championship driver Hayden Paddon did, when he won the overall Rally of Otago earlier this month, also driving a Gosling-supplied Escort.
''I've got no expectations other than to have some fun and enjoy myself. The only goal will be to get to the finish,'' Murphy said.
His sole previous experience on gravel was the 2004 Race to the Sky, where he raced a purpose-built Holden Commodore ute.
Murphy will be thrown in the deep end - contesting his first competitive rally stages in pitch black - as the rally gets under way with two night stages tonight.
The Canterbury Rally is the NZRC's third round and the man picked to set the pace is current championship leader Ben Hunt, of Auckland.
He and co-driver Tony Rawstorn took their Subaru Impreza to maximum points at the opening round in Whangarei but were dogged by punctures at the Rally of Otago.
Looking to capitalise on any mistake will be Tauranga's Phil Campbell and co-driver Venita Fabbro, who have recorded two podium finishes this season.
The Canterbury crowds will be supporting Rangiora brother and sister Matt and Nicole Summerfield, who won this event in 2012.
Seeded behind them are the Mitsubishis of Graham Featherstone (co-driver Dave Devonport) and Brian Green (Fleur Pedersen).
Dunedin's Emma Gilmour is teaming up with Australian Anthony McLoughlin, with the pair targeting a finish in the Vantage Suzuki Swift Maxi after a disappointingly early exit from the Otago Rally.
Also looking to translate speed into a strong finish will be Andrew Hawkeswood in his Mazda 2.
Eighth seed Lance Williams (Te Aroha) will be seeking to back up a solid third place at Otago in his Subaru Impreza.
