Father-son combination Nathan and Jay Murray will return to Monochrome GT4 Australia in 2026 as the duo switch to two separate entries for the 2026 season.
Once again running in the McElrea Racing stable, the pair will each pilot a BMW M4 GT4 G82 EVO with Nathan returning to the Am Cup and Jay to contest the Silver Cup.
Having both made their series debuts last year, Nathan began the season at Phillip Island and featured in all six rounds – the first three of which he ran on his lonesome before being joined by Jay for the second half.
In those opening three rounds, Nathan had shown signs of gradual improvement as the races ticked by, with his best result coming in the second outing of GT Festival Queensland where he crossed the line sixth in class.
Following a successful run of tests with McElrea Racing, Jay then joined his father for the rest of the season as the pair moved to the Silver-Am Class, finishing four of the six races and banking decent points along the way.
Outside of Monochrome GT4 Australia, Nathan made his racing debut in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Australia back in 2019 where he ran for three years before making a singular appearance in the Super GT Australian Championship in 2022. He then took a three-year break and returned to the sport last year via the growing SRO Motorsports Australia series.
As for Jay, last year’s series debut at GT Festival Sandown was his first ever car race following an impressive three-year karting career in the KZ2 class both within Australia and New Zealand.
His rapid rise up the ranks was again showcased at the end of the year where he was invited to BMW M Motorsport in Germany to take part in a two-day selection process alongside fellow Aussie Ryder Quinn and 10 other international rising stars for a place in the BMW M Racing Academy – the Victorian falling just short of a place in the Academy due to actual racing experience but impressing many during the camp.
Nathan and Jay Murray begin their second Monochrome GT4 Australia season alongside the rest of the field at the Shannons SpeedSeries’ GT Festival Phillip Island at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on 27-29 March.
QUOTES
Nathan Murray
#5 McElrea Racing BMW M4 GT4 G82 EVO
“It’s a very exciting year ahead. Having been out of the sport for three years put me behind the eight ball, but the team at McElrea have helped me tremendously in the pre-season, so I’m keen and really looking forward to the year ahead,” Nathan said.
“I’m not entirely confident that I’m going to be at the sharp end and fighting for class wins, but I’ll be more consistent and quicker. My brain is now operating in a position that will allow me to get out there and be competitive, something that Andy has been very mindful of teaching me since our first test day in January 2025.
“With that said, I might not be chasing wins this year, but the goal is class podiums. Andy and the team at McElrea Racing have brought on board a new Head of Engineering in Eric Pender, who has many years of engineering and racing experience here in Australia and also overseas including America, Asia, and Europe.
“Eric is unlocking speed in the car and we’re developing a better understanding of how the car should be set up in terms of brake bias, ride heights, and all those things. With limited time to prepare for last year we struggled with car set up etc as the car came directly from the factory in Germany for race one.
“What I found last year was that when I was in the car by myself, I was learning every session. But when Jay came along, I only had half the seat time per session, so while I was getting quicker, I wasn’t getting as much seat time as I needed in my first year back.
“The car is now heading in a different direction where our lap times have improved dramatically, and I think both Jay and I will make a formidable two-car team in 2026.”
Jay Murray
#7 McElrea Racing BMW M4 GT4 G82 EVO
“Being with Dad last year was a great experience and I loved being able to make my racing debut alongside him in Monochrome GT4 Australia,” Jay said.
“I’m excited to be running my own car now and having a proper crack at getting some good results after gaining that crucial experience last year.
“While I am completing my Year 12 studies this year, it’s going to be a very busy season, but I’ve been putting in a lot of work over the off-season and I’m confident I’m in a good position to build on the momentum from last year now that I have a few races under my belt.
“Attending the BMW Driver Academy in Germany last year and getting so close to making it through to the final three was a massive confidence booster, and I think having another 12 races this year in a competitive series will give me more experience and set me up nicely for another crack come November 2026.
“There’s been a pathway set for me over the coming years, starting with GT4, I’m happy to fly under the radar, continue to log laps, get the miles in and hopefully achieve some strong results along the way.”