Wood thrilled to overcome splitter drama and return to Finals race
By Thomas Miles
Date posted: 13 July 2025
Rising WAU Kiwi Ryan Wood is right in the mix of the Finals race and a fighting drive with a broken splitter in Townsville could be critical.
Wood secured seventh spot on the penultimate lap of Race 22 at the Townsville 500 with a well-judged move on Thomas Randle through the fast Turn 10.
With Chaz Mostert rounding out the podium, it completed a solid weekend of racing for the WAU boys, who climbed a combined total of 40 positions across the three races.
Wood was delighted with his Sunday drive, having been forced to deal with some damage as early as Lap 1.
“I had some fun and we had a fast car,” Wood said.
“It was just a shame we started a little too deep today, and our front splitter was broken for most of the race.
“I think maybe on Lap 1 there were a few little rubs and it started flapping.
“I had a lot of push through kink at one which sort of shows where our car needs to be.”
However, the late move was even more critical given it put Wood back into the top 10 championship spots that decide who participates in the inaugural Supercars Finals campaign.
The #2 Kiwi has bounced on either side of the cut line throughout 2025 with the latest result getting him back into the coveted 10th spot.
But there is not much in it as he sits 43 points ahead of Cameron Hill, who he displaced after the MSR driver suffered a freak brake failure due to debris.
Wood is eyeing Queensland Raceway and the enduros as a chance to ease his nerves, given less than 200 points separate seventh and 14th in the standings.
“We are close (to finals) and actually close to seventh so if we can jump a few more spots and stop being on the bubble we would be really happy,” Wood said.
“We will just keep doing what we can, but being able to race some really good drivers like Randle, Kostecki, De Pasquale means I am making gains in myself and my driving.”
2025 Townsville 500
FRIDAY 11th July
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