Ripped Wood wows WAU
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 21 February 2025
The work Ryan Wood has done over the off season to prepare for his return to Supercars has wowed everyone at WAU, especially Bruce Stewart.
WAU CEO Stewart could not speak more highly about the way Wood has prepared himself for his second Supercars season.
After showing flashes of promise, including qualifying on the front row and just missing out on a podium in Perth, the 21-year-old Kiwi finished 16th in the standings.
Determined to come back as a stronger force, the youngster will go racing in the #2 Mustang as a leaner, fitter machine.
It has had an early impact as well with Wood making Q2 and qualifying seventh for the opening race of the year, having lined up 14th in the Sydney opener last year.
Stewart said Wood had lifted the mood at WAU and paid credit to mentor Greg Murphy pushing the young charger.
“The drivers are well prepared and I don’t know if you have seen him, but Ryan Wood looks like his younger brother right now,” Stewart said.
“To see a young talented driver go away and come back so well prepared has been amazing thing for the team and made everyone a foot taller.
“I have to be quite frank. It is really off his own bat.
“Ryan also has a mentor in New Zealand, a strong willed character called Greg Murphy.
“Murf does not take fools easily and is quite direct in his feedback and it is great for woody to have someone like him.
“They are so strong together and got to give a shout out to Murf because when Ryan came back from New Zealand, we were like ‘wow’.
“It is so good and such a great culture shot in the arm.”
Speaking ahead of the season Wood made it clear he wants some silverware in 2025.
“It’s going to be a huge year, year two isn’t going to be any easier than year one so we’ve been putting in a heap of work to continue to move forward – we want some trophies this year that’s for sure,” Wood said.
Image: DMAC Photography
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