Back op puts Greg Murphy in doubt for Bathurst

BACK DOWN: A back operation has put Greg Murphy in doubt for the Bathurst V8 endurance race.

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New Zealand's four-time Bathurst 1000 champion Greg Murphy is in doubt for V8 Supercar racing's showpiece event after being rushed to hospital with a back problem.

Murphy had surgery yesterday to fix a bulging disc after he collapsed at home complaining of serious back pain.

The 38-year-old is almost certain to miss the next V8 meeting at Victoria's Phillip Island on September 10-12, the traditional lead-up to Bathurst in October.

And he must also be under a serious cloud for Bathurst after what he described as an "agonising few days".

"I had a bulged disc in my lower back, the L5, which pushed the nerve off to the side and created a problem with my left leg," Murphy said after he was discharged from hospital today.

"That caused a major strength loss in my left leg and I need that back as I left-foot brake, a key component of my driving.

"In one aspect, with three weeks until our next race the timing's good. Now the question is how long is the recovery process?"

Murphy has endured a difficult V8 season, but remained bullish he would be fit enough to compete in his pet event.

Murphy won the Bathurst 1000 in 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2004, and was unlucky not to win last year teamed with fellow Bathurst legend Mark Skaife before the duo eventually finished fourth.

"The way I am up and about already is encouraging, so Bathurst seems a very safe bet," Murphy said.

"I don't think there's any chance that I will miss having a crack at another win on the mountain."

Castrol Racing team owner Paul Morris said a search for a driver to potentially take Murphy's place alongside rookie Tim Blanchard for Phillip Island was under way.

"We are already looking at our options and I'm sure the phone will start ringing off the hook with offers pretty soon," Morris said.

"We will find the best driver available and put them on standby, but we will also give Murph every opportunity to recover.

"His health is what's most important, so we won't want him to come back too early and put that at risk."

- AAP