Ryan Wood (racing driver)

Last updated

Ryan Wood
Ryan Wood at the 2025 Adelaide Grand Final Parade.jpg
Wood at the Adelaide Grand Final in 2025
NationalityFlag of New Zealand.svg New Zealander
Born (2003-12-04) 4 December 2003 (age 22)
Wellington, New Zealand
Supercars Championship career
Debut season 2024
Current team Walkinshaw TWG Racing
Racing licence FIA Silver Driver.png FIA Silver (until 2024)
FIA Gold Driver.png FIA Gold (2025–)
Car number2
Starts56
Wins1
Podiums7
Poles3
Fastest laps1
Best finish10th in 2025
Previous series
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2022
  • 2020–2021

Ryan Ian Thomas Wood (born 4 December 2003) is a New Zealand racing driver from Wellington, New Zealand. He is currently competing in the Supercars Championship with Walkinshaw TWG Racing, driving the No. 2 Toyota GR Supra.

Contents

Early and personal life

Ryan Ian Thomas Wood was born on 4 December 2003 in Wellington, New Zealand. [1] [2] Wood came from a racing family, albeit in a different discipline to the one in which Ryan would begin his career. His father, Shane, raced jetsprint boats and quadbikes, but pushed his son to compete in karting from a young age. [3] The majority of family funds were committed to Wood's karting endeavors, and Wood recalls that the family forewent new furniture and family holidays in the name of funding his racing. [3]

He counts his father, as well as former racing driver Greg Murphy, as his greatest mentors. [3]

Racing career

Sports car racing

Wood began his pro racing career in sports car racing, taking part in the Toyota Finance 86 Championship before graduating to Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia in 2022. In his lone season in the competition, supported by Team Porsche New Zealand and Earl Bamber Motorsport, he scored a double victory in the opening round at Sydney [4] before taking victories at The Bend [5] and Bathurst. [6] The championship fight between himself and Tom Sargent came down to the final round at Phillip Island, where Wood would ultimately finish second in the championship despite sweeping the weekend. [7] Wood had secured Porsche New Zealand's scholarship to compete in the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia, but forfeited the offer to compete in Super2 full-time in 2023. [8]

Wood returned to sports car racing in 2025, taking part in the GT World Challenge Australia alongside fellow Kiwi Steve Brooks. [9] The duo scored five podium finishes over the course of the season and were classified fourth in the Pro-Am championship.

Super2 Series

Wood placed third in the 2023 Dunlop Super2 Series. Holden Commodore ZB of Ryan Wood (Adelaide 2023).jpg
Wood placed third in the 2023 Dunlop Super2 Series.

After a strong season in the Porsche Sprint Challenge the year prior, Wood was offered a seat with Walkinshaw Andretti United for the 2023 Super2 Series. He would be racing in the #2 Holden Commodore ZB. [10]

The season started in Newcastle with Wood finishing in 8th place. For Race 2 of the weekend, he qualified the #2 WAU Holden on pole position. [11] However, he was caught out in an incident during the race. The next round was held at Wanneroo Raceway in Perth. Wood won both races that weekend, solidifying his challenge for the title. The next few rounds were a bit up and down, which meant he was on the backfoot going into the season final in Adelaide. He dominated the weekend, winning both races from Pole, but that was insufficient to secure the title. Wood eventually finishing the season in 3rd. [12]

Supercars Championship

Following his strong 2023 Super2 Series Campaign, Walkinshaw Andretti United confirmed that they had signed Wood to race for the team full time in 2024, replacing Nick Percat in the #2 Mustang. [13] [14] Upon his debut at Bathurst, he was the only driver on the grid who had never taken part in a Supercars race. [15] Wood's arrival was cited early on as a 'big culture shift' within the organization, rectifying a soured relationship held between WAU and Percat at the conclusion of the 2023 season. [16] Wood endured a quiet rookie season, finishing a season-best fourth at Taupo before a repeat performance followed at Wanneroo. [17] He concluded the season 16th in the drivers' championship.

Wood's Mustang on the grid at Adelaide in 2025. Ryan Wood's Ford Mustang Supercar at the 2025 Adelaide Grand Final.jpg
Wood's Mustang on the grid at Adelaide in 2025.

Over the offseason, Wood embarked on a fitness plan which saw him lose 25 kilograms before the start of the 2025 season. Wood cited his disappointing rookie season as a catalyst to change his mindset off the track, stating that he would "leave no stone unturned" in his effort to climb to the top of the Supercars grid. [3] During round three of the season, Wood claimed his first Supercars podium finish, bettering his best result at Taupo from 2024 with a third-place finish in race one. He referred to the moment as "a monkey off the back," and was spurred on by the race being in his home country, with compatriot Matt Payne taking the race victory. [18] Upon the series' return to Perth in June, Wood claimed his first series victory, a moment he described as the achievement of "[a] lifelong dream." [19] Wood added another pair of podiums at Queensland to conclude the Sprint Cup, [20] before an electrical failure stymied his chance at winning the Bathurst 1000 alongside Jayden Ojeda. [21] Wood also qualified for the first ever Supercars Finals Series by securing a top-ten finish in the regular season standings. [22]

Wood scored pole for the opening round of the Gold Coast 500, but was eliminated from contention before Sandown. [23] He would score three more podiums in the final five races, taking tenth in the championship. The Supercars website ranked Wood as #4 in its top ten Supercars drivers of the season, highlighting his relationship with teammate and season champion Chaz Mostert as well as his qualifying prowess as key contributors to his ranking. [24]

Open-wheel racing

For 2026, Wood was confirmed to compete in the 2026 Formula Regional Oceania Trophy. [25] Wood's primary goal was to develop a new set of skills through the open-wheel discipline, with the aim of taking them back to Supercars to "better himself as a driver." [26]

Racing record

Karting career summary

SeasonSeriesPosition
2012New Zealand Schools Kart Championship - Cadet20th
North Island Sprint Championship - Cadet17th
44th Blossom Festival - Cadet10th
2013New Zealand Schools Kart Championship - Cadet5th
New Zealand Sprint Championship - Cadet14th
New Zealand Top Half Series - Cadet23rd
North Island Sprint Championship - Cadet2nd
CIK Trophy of New Zealand - Cadet7th
45th Blossom Festival - Cadet2nd
2014New Zealand Sprint Championship - 100cc Junior Restricted10th
New Zealand Schools Kart Championship - 100cc Junior Restricted4th
Bridgestone International Final - Vortex Mini ROK12th
46th Blossom Festival - Vortex Mini ROK1st
2015New Zealand Sprint Championship - Vortex Mini ROK20th
New Zealand Schools Kart Championship - Vortex Mini ROK1st
47th Blossom Festival - Vortex Mini ROK1st
2016New Zealand Sprint Championship - 100cc Junior Yamaha2nd
New Zealand Sprint Championship - Junior Rotax22nd
RMC New Zealand - Junior Rotax2nd
New Zealand Schools Kart Championship - Formula Junior2nd
New Zealand Schools Kart Championship - 100cc Junior Yamaha1st
2017New Zealand Sprint Championship - 100cc Junior Yamaha4th
New Zealand Sprint Championship - Junior Rotax2nd
New Zealand Schools Kart Championship - 100cc Junior Yamaha3rd
RMC New Zealand - Junior Max1st
RMC World Grand Final - Junior Max9th
New Zealand Schools Kart Championship - Rotax Junior4th
49th Blossom Festival - Rotax Junior3rd
2018New Zealand Sprint Championship - Junior Max2nd
RMC New Zealand - Junior Max3rd
New Zealand Schools Kart Championship - Junior Rotax4th
50th Blossom Festival - Rotax Junior3rd
2019New Zealand Sprint Championship - Rotax Max DD21st
New Zealand Sprint Championship - KZ25th
CIK Trophy of New Zealand - KZ28th
Race of Stars - KZ228th
Australian Kart Championship - X307th
New Zealand Schools Kart Championship - Rotax Light1st
Australian Kart Championship - KA3 Senior45th

Career summary

SeasonSeriesTeamRacesWinsPolesF/lapsPodiumsPointsPosition
2020 Best Bars Toyota 86 Championship New Zealand Ryan Wood Motorsport14001140410th
2021 Best Bars Toyota 86 Championship New Zealand Ryan Wood Motorsport15667108943rd
2022 Toyota Gazoo Racing Australia 86 Series TekworkX Motorsport300008145th
Porsche Sprint Challenge Australia Earl Bamber Motorsport 156811148332nd
2023 Super2 Series Walkinshaw Andretti United 12547612963rd
2024 Supercars Championship Walkinshaw Andretti United 240010149216th
2025 Supercars Championship Walkinshaw Andretti United 341317345510th
GT World Challenge Australia - Pro-Am Wolfbrook Team MPC1200051234th
2026 Formula Regional Oceania Trophy mtec Motorsport400004111th
Source: [27]

* Season still in progress

Super2 Series results

(key) (Race results only)

Super2 Series results
YearTeamNo.Car123456789101112PositionPoints
2023 Walkinshaw Andretti United 2 Holden Commodore ZB NEW
R1
8		 NEW
R2
Ret		 BAR
R3
1		 BAR
R4
1		 TOW
R5
8		 TOW
R6
5		 SAN
R7
1		 SAN
R8
3		 BAT
R9
Ret		 BAT
R10
4		 ADE
R11
1		 ADE
R12
1		3rd1296

Supercars Championship results

Complete Bathurst 1000 results

YearTeamCarCo-driverPositionLaps
2024 Walkinshaw Andretti United Ford Mustang S650 Flag of New Zealand.svg Fabian Coulthard 15th161
2025 Walkinshaw Andretti UnitedFord Mustang S650 Flag of New Zealand.svg Jayden Ojeda 19th149

Complete Formula Regional Oceania Trophy results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

YearTeam123456789101112131415DCPoints
2026 mtec Motorsport HMP
1
4		 HMP
2
4		 HMP
3
18		 HMP
4
Ret		 TAU
1
1		 TAU
2
5		 TAU
3
3		 TAU
4
1		 TER
1
TER
2
TER
3
TER
4
HIG
1
HIG
2
HIG
3
5th*150*

References

  1. ↑ "RYAN WOOD MOTORSPORT LIMITED". New Zealand Companies Office. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  2. ↑ "Ryan Wood Biography". Supercars.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Kermeen, Mat (8 October 2025). "Ryan Wood's second crack at the Bathurst 1000, minus the sack of potatoes and gastro". Stuff . Stuff Limited . Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  4. ↑ O'Brien, Connor (29 May 2022). "Wood triumphs in Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge". Speedcafe. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  5. ↑ "The Bend Wrap: Wood and Sargent share Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge wins". Speedcafe. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  6. ↑ Smy, Damion (12 November 2022). "Wood keeps Porsche title hopes alive with double victory". Speedcafe. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "Wood dominates final round while Sargent seals Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Championship". Porsche Newsroom. 26 November 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  8. ↑ "Wood forfeits Porsche scholarship for Super2 drive". Speedcafe. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  9. ↑ Chapman, Simon (28 March 2025). "Kiwi Supercars star secures GT World Challenge debut". Speedcafe. Retrieved 17 January 2026.
  10. ↑ Herrero, Daniel (20 December 2022). "WAU announces second Super2 driver". Speedcafe.com. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  11. ↑ Coch, Mat (12 March 2023). "Wood seals narrow Super2 pole in Newcastle". Speedcafe.com. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  12. ↑ O'Brien, Garry (26 November 2023). "Wood's double win as Allen takes the Super 2 title". Speedcafe.com. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  13. ↑ Herrero, Daniel (1 September 2023). "WAU announces Ryan Wood Supercars promotion". Speedcafe.com. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
  14. ↑ "WAU promotes rookie to main game". Supercars.
  15. ↑ Long, David (16 February 2024). "Kiwi rookie Ryan Wood insists he won't be pushed around in maiden Supercars season". Stuff . Stuff Limited . Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  16. ↑ van Leeuwen, Andrew (22 March 2024). "Walkinshaw: Wood brings 'big culture shift' to WAU". Speedcafe. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  17. ↑ Bartholomaeus, Stefan (11 February 2025). "Wood hunting trophies in second Supercars campaign". Speedcafe. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  18. ↑ Bartholomaeus, Stefan (12 April 2025). "'Monkey off the back': Wood celebrates maiden podium". Speedcafe. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  19. ↑ Chapman, Simon (7 June 2025). "Wood achieves 'lifelong dream' with first Supercars win". Speedcafe. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  20. ↑ "Brown withstands Feeney blowtorch in wild Ipswich sprint". Supercars . 9 August 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026. Ryan Wood... claimed his second podium in as many starts.
  21. ↑ "Sinking feeling for Wood as Bathurst victory slips". Supercars . 12 October 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  22. ↑ "First ever Supercars Finals driver field set in Bathurst". Supercars . 12 October 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  23. ↑ "Supercars News: Mostert completes clean sweep at GC500". AutoRacing1. 26 October 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  24. ↑ "Top 10 Supercars drivers of 2025: #4 Ryan Wood". Supercars . 18 December 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  25. ↑ van Leeuwen, Andrew (1 November 2025). "Ryan Wood to race Formula Regional Oceania". Speedcafe. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  26. ↑ O'Brien, Connor (9 January 2026). "The 'real end goal' for Wood's open-wheel dabble". V8 Sleuth. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
  27. ↑ "Driver: Ryan Wood". DriverDB. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
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