NZ’s Wood to make 2023 Carrera Cup field

By Timothy Neal

Date posted: November 7, 2022

Ryan Wood and Zac Stichbury have been selected as recipients of the Team Porsche New Zealand 2023 Scholarships.

For two years, the team – in conjunction with Earl Bamber Motorsport – has competed with success in the Carrera Cup and Sprint Challenge Australia, affording a pathway for strong NZ talent to cut their teeth is Australia’s premier one-make Porsche series’.

Of the five finalists in the TPNZ shootout – Kaleb Ngatoa, Matthew McCutcheon, Ronan Murphy,Ryan Wood, and Zac Stichbury – two were eligible to compete in Australia next season.

Wood will graduate to the Carrera Cup for 2023 after competing for Team New Zealand in this year’s Porsche Sprint Challenge, where he’s currently running second to Thomas Sergeant in both the Pro Standings and Jnr Driver classes.

“I’m very excited and privileged to continue my journey with TPNZ and EBM next year in the Carrera cup,” Wood said.

Ryan Wood will race in the 2023 Carrera Cup Championship for Earl Bamber Motorsport

“Following this year’s results, I’m looking forward to achieving the same results next year with the ambition to be a title contender again.

“This year has been a huge success with being a title contender and having race wins and pole positions every round. It’s been awesome to work with everyone at TPNZ and learn lots on and off track with their guidance being a huge help.

“A big thank you to everyone at TPNZ for selecting me and giving me a chance to represent this awesome brand and group of people again.”

Stichbury has spent the last few seasons competing in the NZ Formula ford and Toyota 86 championships, and will now move to the Gold Coast to compete in the Sprint Challenge for 2023.

“Words struggle to describe how much this means to me, to be selected as a Porsche New Zealand driver and race for Earl Bamber Motorsport next year in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge,” Stichbury said.

Zac Stichbury will compete in the 2023 Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia after recieving a scholarship through Team New Zealand

“To finally get the opportunity to continue from where my late father finished up and to race under the New Zealand based team over in Australia. I am aiming to win the championship as well as improve and grow each race weekend as a driver and with the team.

“Can’t wait to see what unfolds and to learn and take this opportunity with both hands.”

Over the last few years, Australian race goers and audiences have seen other recipients of the scholarship flourish on the Australian racing scene.

Matthew Payne was the first in 2021, the talented driver going from strength to strength to the point where he will compete for Grove Racing in the Supercars 2023 season. The other is Callum Hedge, who finished as the top ranked rookie in this year’s Carrera Cup.

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the latest issue of Auto Action.

AUTO ACTION, Australia’s independent voice of motorsport.

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NZ’s Wood to make 2023 Carrera Cup field

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