Ali vs Frazier, Tyson vs Holyfield, Mundine vs Green are some of boxings greatest rivalries and two Supercars legends nearly joined the list in one iconic incident.
It’s nearly 20-years since the 2005 Bathurst 1000 when tempers simmered to almost boiling point towards the end of the race when contacted nearly vaulted a car down the mountainside at The Cutting.
But it had been a frustration growing for more than two years prior.
After an era of Holden domination, Marcos Ambrose became Ford’s saviour as the tables turned and he was the force the Blue Oval needed.
Combined with New Zealand engineering masterminds Stone Brothers Racing, Ambrose took Ford’s first title for six years in 2003 and backed it up the next season to immortalise himself as a hero to the Blue Oval brigade.
However, there was some angst.
Ambrose’s quick rise didn’t come without controversy, particularly involving the outspoken Holden star Greg Murphy.
Murphy had been a title rival to Ambrose in 2003 until an injury while performing the VB Challenge forced him out of the event.
Fast forward to Gold Coast 2004 and Ambrose was accused of brake testing Murphy’s teammate Rick Kelly after Saturday’s race.
Kelly was a lap down and followed Ambrose for much of the race, which aggravated the reigning champion.
After storming up pit lane to vent his frustration to Kelly, it blew up in a press conference the next day when Murphy posed some questions to the Ford star and a heated exchange followed.
Fast forward a year and Murphy had switched teams from Kmart Racing to Paul Weel Racing, but the rivalry was only going to reignite.
On lap 145 of the 2005 Bathurst 1000 it boiled over when contact was made between Murphy and Ambrose approaching The Cutting.
Contact between the pair spun the Stone Brothers Racing Falcon into and nearly over the wall, while Murphy also retired on the spot.
This led to a heated exchange again between the two where it appeared both drivers were going to throw fists. This didn’t happened, but there was plenty of finger pointing!
Commentator Leigh Diffey stated at the time, “these two don’t like each other” as Ambrose stormed up to go nose-to-nose with Murphy.
It proved a dramatic ending to the duo’s rivalry after Ambrose had earlier confirmed his move to America in pursuit of a career in NASCAR for 2006.
Immortalised in Repco’s latest commercial, the moment is one inscribed in Bathurst folklore.