Homecoming podium a ‘dream come true’ for Wood
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 12 April 2025
Ryan Wood has waited for the perfect stage to get his breakthrough Supercars podium and he is in dreamland.
The boy for Wellington put in an inspired drive to steal third place from Anton De Pasquale and stand on the podium in the opening race of the Taupo Super440.
The maiden trophy arrives in Wood’s 32nd race since debuting at last year’s Bathurst 500.
From the moment he arrived in Super2, his raw pace was clear and had been pushing a podium with two previous fourth place finishes.
As a result Wood is relieved and elated to get the breakthrough in front of his friends and family.
“It is a cool way to start the weekend at Taupo and is a monkey off my back,” Wood told Auto Action’s Andrew Clarke at Taupo.
“As soon as I sat in fourth I was like ‘I am sick of finishing fourth’ so I went for the trophy today and it is pretty cool.
“I did not think too much about it because I was trying to chase and get Cam as well.
“But once the last lap came around I picked my right moves and was happy to get on the podium.
“I feel a lot better (in my second year) and it showed in my moves being able to back myself knowing I am here for my talent.
“To do it on home soil is a dream come true.”
The man who has backed Wood from the start is fellow Kiwi, WAU CEO Bruce Stewart.
Stewart was extremely proud of his young charger, who has been with WAU throughout his entire Supercars journey.
“It is a great result, especially for a young bloke who has shown lots of speed and been up and coming with huge potential,” Stewart beamed.
“He has made a big step and has a huge x factor about him.
“I am so happy for him, his family and everyone who has supported him.
“It is really cool and just the beginning.”
Stewart arrived at the season opening Sydney 500 stunned by the work Wood had put in over the summer to ensure he was ready to leap forwards in his sophomore season and the results prove that.
“He has transformed himself and made another step, which is infectious,” Stewart said.
“It has built momentum in the team and everyone is like ‘woah this young kid has taken things really seriously to move forward.
“That was a great reward for all the hard work.”
The unlucky driver who had the podium snatched from his grasp inside the final two laps from Wood was Team 18’s Anton De Pasquale as the WAU driver forced his way past at Turn 3.
In fact it is a surreal twist of fate given that De Pasquale denied the then rookie a maiden podium in the corresponding race last year.
“Mixed emotions. Losing the podium with a couple of laps to go,” he said.
“I went after Cam (Waters) but had a lock up at (Turn) one and Woody pulled off a good move.
“I did the exact same thing to him last year to get the podium and karma comes around.
“He had something funny to say, so it is all good and he deserves it. Always cool to see someone get their first podium.”
image: WAU/RACE PROJECT
Taupo Super440
Practice 1 – 1: A. Heimgartner 1:26.8830 2: Anton De Pasquale +0.0258 3: Matt Payne +0.0830
Practice 2 – 1: Ryan Wood 1:25.9778; 2: Brodie Kostecki +0.0435; 3: Thomas Randle +0.0838
Race 8 Qualifying – 1 Matt Payne 1:25.7006; 2 Brodie Kostecki +0.0705; 3 Cameron Waters +0.1646
Race 9 Qualifying: 1 Brodie Kostecki 1:26.3482; 2 Chaz Mostert +0.0712; 3 Broc Feeney +0.1939
Race 8 (37 laps) 1 Matt Payne 2 Cameron Waters 3 Ryan Wood
Sat 14.05: Supercars Race 9 (37 laps)
Sun 8.35-9.05: Supercars Race 10 Qualifying
Sun 10.50-11.35: Supercars Race 10 Top 10 Shootout
Sun 13.05: Supercars Race 10 (61 laps)
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