Harry Bates’ Rally Portugal dream inspired by NZ legend Greg Murphy

Three-time EROAD Australian Rally Champion (ARC) Harry Bates has revealed that his Rally Portugal charge was stemmed off the idea of Kiwi Supercars legend Greg Murphy, who planted a seed all the way back in 2022.

Speaking with ARC host Greg Rust on the award-winning podcast, Rusty’s Garage, Bates said that it at was at the conclusion of his cameo at the 2022 Rally New Zealand that Murphy had convinced him to stay positive and that another opportunity would come soon.

“It was at the finish and we were sort of in the holding area and Murph was there chatting to me and he said you’re just disappointed because you think this is your one opportunity” Bates said on the shortcast.

“He said that’s complete rubbish! You’re 26 years old, or whatever I was at the time, and you’ve got your whole career ahead of you.  You’ll find a way to do more. So that’s been in the back of my mind ever since.”

Bates has spent the past few months making a deal happen and will be assisted by his brother Lewis who tackled this round of the WRC two years ago.

They fly out soon to prepare for Rally Portugal (which is on May 7 to 10) but this time Bates will be in more familiar Toyota machinery run by the Sports Racing Technologies squad as opposed to the Skoda he made his debut in.

Young gun Jackson Long also joined Rusty on this episode after a very impressive performance at Round 1 of the EROAD Australian Rally Championship in his new Skoda Fabia R5.

Listen to the podcast here.

Bates will contest Rally Portugal on 7-10 May, while Long is back in action at the ARC Plant Hire Forest Rally on 22-25 May.