February 27, 2025 • 11 mins
Driver Ryan Wood thinks this season of Supercars will be even better than the last couple of years have been.
The Kiwi managed a better finish in the opening round in Sydney this year than he did in Bathurst last year.
He spoke to D'Arcy Waldegrave on Sportstalk.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk z'b.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Let's talk about of motorsport now and we are joined
by the aforementioned Ryan Wood.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Ryan joins a snag today.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
Mate, mate, how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:23):
I'm very well and I suppose not quite as good
as you because you're a full time racer in supercars
and you're into year two now. Ryan runs for Walking
Toraw Andreddy United. He's running the mobile truck assess number
two car, the Mustang. And Ryan, you got off to
a much better start in Sydney than you did last
year in Baththurst. You must be happy enough about that.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Yeah, obviously a bit better start. It's always nice when
you leave round one with some points in hands. So yes,
in the championship, not really where I want to be,
but like I said, it gives me a bit of
a platform to roll into to round two with and
then obviously after that we have have Taupo. So I'm
(01:07):
really excited to get back here to New Zealand and
race in front of a home crowd and yeah, hopefully
that'll that'll give me a bit of extra spirit because
I definitely know.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
What did last year, so can't wait to get back here.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
And you know, obviously to start the season a little
bit better is a nice way to kick off twenty
twenty five and and my second year in the main game,
So yeah, bring it on.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
You're feeling a little more comfortable about where you sit now.
Look at that top tree where you were sitting right now.
And it's often said that the older guys team to
bully the younger guys because they're just not experienced with
these supercars and how they operate. And it's pretty easy
to qualify high, but drop down guys aren't just used
(01:50):
to their elbows being out.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Do you experience that in the first year that that
rookie feel.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
I think it even goes into year two where they
definitely don't just back down. So it's I think that's
what makes supercars so tough and what makes it hard
for the young guys coming in. It's not exactly just
the qualifying sort of stuff, but it's the racing.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
You know, you've got guys, even in.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
My teammate chairs Brody Kisticki, there's so many good guys
that are hard races, that don't just lie down when
you try to go for a move. So I think
that's what makes it really, really tough and what makes
supercars so exciting to watch. And I feel like Sydney
was one of those weekends where I feel like supercars
is coming back to its best with the action on
(02:35):
track and even off track.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
So you reckon it just eased up a wee bit
over the last couple of years. You probably can't say
that you'll get sacked, but maybe it's a little heavier
than it was in the previous couple of editions.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Is it fair.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
I wouldn't say it was eased up. I feel like
there was always probably a dominant factor or a dominant
driver in previous years, where now it feels like it's
a bit more open and saying that cam Water is
just one three from three, I feel like, you know,
even when someone is that dominant, you look how hard
(03:11):
he had to work on Saturday night in that race
with Brock, Like it's yeah, definitely not just it's weird.
You know, you have those those times where the main
driver or like the guy to beat sort of just
goes past everyone and they sort of let him go past,
where now I feel like it doesn't matter who it is.
(03:32):
They just battle for any position all the way down
to twenty four twenty fifth, you know, so I think
that's what makes it quite exciting to be a part
of right now as well.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
I'd suggest the Aussie drivers and I know the supercar
fans are fit up to the back teeth about being
schooled by Kiwi drivers. You guys been over there a
while and you slap them around with e so I
expect what is five of you on the grid. I'm
sure that gives them a little extra when they're looking
after you in these races. Not only are you a
rookie ish, but you're a key we They must hate
(04:03):
that rhyme.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
It's differently.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Not the easiest sometimes when you've got the Kiwi flag
on the side of the car. But at the end
of the day, you know, I love representing our country
and it's pretty cool to be over there doing that
and you know, have so much support from other Kiwi
drivers or from all different areas, so it's cool to
be a part of and you know, obviously being worth
(04:28):
Walkinshaw and Drew united to come from to be racing
for that team and be guided by Greg Murphy where
he raced for them for so many years.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
It's pretty special, to be honest.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Not a bad acceleration for you to where you sit
right now. What Twitter eighty six back in twenty twenty
ran that for a couple of years. Then I think
you're in super two and twenty three did well and
suddenly you find yourself in the main game. Did you
expect to rise that quickly line?
Speaker 4 (05:00):
Definitely not.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
I feel like it's a pretty surreal feeling to be
where where I've always wanted to be for so many years.
But it happened so fast for me at the same time,
so it's sort of weird. I remember doing my first
race in cars in twenty twenty and then all of
a sudden, I think it was start of twenty twenty two,
(05:25):
end of twenty twenty one, I was moving to Australia
to raise Porsches. So it's, yeah, happened pretty quickly, and
you know, some days it's probably a good thing, and
some days it's a bad thing because you know, I
probably haven't had the amount of experience.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
Some other guys have had to get to supercars.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
But nonetheless, I'm taking it with both hands and just
trying to trying to take it by the scruff of
the neck and try to get some good results.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
You know, it's spent a bit of time. You said
over to run Porsches with Il Bamba, didn't you.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Yeah, yep.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
So I won the Porsche New Zealand Scholarship and that
was an awesome program thanks to Giltrap Group and there
are awesome team there and was able to get over
to Australia and probably without them, I wouldn't be in
the position I am now. So it's you know, obviously
Earl's had a great relationship with them for so long
(06:19):
and then for them to start the Port New Zealand program,
it's pretty special to be a part of.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
You mentioned topol before. It's a massive race.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
It's a crazy old track and when it blows and
the pummus turns up, I suggest it's like no other
from last year.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
What changes for you? Do you believe? What can you
put down this time ramp? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (06:41):
I feel like for us as a team, we just
just need to really make a good car on tire
with obviously you guys saw last year it was very
abrasive and chewed up the tires and you had a
standout team with Triple eight and the dry on Sunday
that just dominated. So I feel like if it rains
again will be quite good because we were very good
(07:04):
there last year. But we just need to work out
a bit race car for the longer distance. But all
in all, really excited to get back to Taupo. It's
an awesome track. I feel like it's a really cool
atmosphere there last year, and I feel like it's going
to get even bigger this year.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
So I can't wait to get back.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
And yet hopefully it gets to the glory days like
old Bookie used to be.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Like walking Shore Andre to United de Peddler from their
mobile truck assessed Mustang. It's the number two, I add.
It's a strange old year, isn't it, Ryan, Because at
the end of the year there was a final series.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
It's gone all NASCAR on it. You got your head
around that.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yet, the way it works, what the top drivers end
up competing in the last three races for that top
prize a little difficult to expect for the fan base
to actually stomach.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Yeah, it's different, but I think it's exciting. I think
you're going to see more desperate racing, and I think
that's good. For our sport, I think it's going to
be more desperate all the way down to tenth because
if you get to tenth and then you make it
into the finals and you end up being really fast
than the last four rounds, you can end up winning
the championship, you know. And I feel like that opens
(08:15):
it up to so many different different teams, And to
be honest, it's not much different to a final system
and a rugby or something like that competition, you know.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
So I feel like it's pretty fair and pretty exciting.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Race one, two and three, first round of the camp
over in Sydney. We touched on that.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
But you stalled in race too, And if there's a
scarier moment in motorsport, I think stalling on the start
grid is probably Yet you didn't get clipped, but you
must have been squeezing for a.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
While there when that happened, going oh oh here we go.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Yeah, definitely pretty nerve wracking moment. Yeah, hopefully first then
last time stalling. But yeah, unfortunately the clutch failed on
loading on the loading phase and yeah it just was
a passenger from there. But you know, we fixed it
Sunday and yeah, hopefully get some good starts at the
Grand Prix.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
So what about the start race?
Speaker 2 (09:09):
I mean you qualified well what seventh places you see it,
but you kind of almost ran out of steam toward
the end of it, didn't You just didn't.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Quite carry on with that pace? What was the issue there?
What has to change?
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Yeah, Like on Saturday we were really good.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
We were racing Will Brown there for a while and
sort of looking quite good and good stead for a
good result and then yeah, we just missed the window
a little bit on petting and tried to do two
ties and make the time back, but unfortunately the car
balance just went away, and you know, it's very hard
(09:45):
around that track. And then Saturday obviously stalled, and then
Sunday just got bit up in the first two laps
and yeah, we undercut a few cars and managed to.
Speaker 4 (09:54):
Get back to fourteenth.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
But yeah, I don't know, all know, it's it's one
of those weekends where you just go, well, at the
end of the day, we didn't get everything perfect and
we're fourteen.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
Think I would have been more gutted if.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
I I was to say I got our team and
I and myself got everything perfect and we were fourteenth.
Speaker 4 (10:14):
You'd be pretty gutted.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
But we've got plenty of stuff to improve on, which
is exciting, and yeah, we'll just try to put his
foot forward.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
And one last thing for you, Ryan would I know
it's only Ely Dawes did touch on it before and
I mean that was a crazy drag race with Cam
war is hold on? Who did Cam drag race? I
think it was? Was it race number two?
Speaker 4 (10:35):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (10:36):
It was, wasn't it? That was mad? But three from
three from three? Who beats the guy? Is it Thomas
Rand or is it Matt Pain? Is it Musted?
Speaker 4 (10:44):
Is it?
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Is it Brown? Where does the challenge come from?
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Hopefully myself that's that's the goal. Hopefully the Grand Prix
will be good. I live in the Albert Park, so
hopefully a bit of home track advantage. But no, I
think anybody can stop him. I don't think he's Yeah,
I think it's just going to be like that all year.
I think it's going to be wide open. But I
think cam Cam just drove very well and they obviously
(11:08):
had their car tuned in, but you saw it wasn't
easy for him, especially in race too, so I think
it shows that it's still wide open even if you
do have the fastest car.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
It's your home track. Please don't tell me.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
You get out on the weekend and we smalls and
squirt around the track, just having a crack.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
You don't do it. You behave yourself, right, Yeah, I
behave myself.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
I wouldn't do that, so I want to keep my job.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
For more from sports Talk, listen lived to News Talks.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
They'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk z'b.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Let's talk about of motorsport now and we are joined
by the aforementioned Ryan Wood.
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Ryan joins a snag today.
Speaker 4 (00:20):
Mate, mate, how are you?
Speaker 2 (00:23):
I'm very well and I suppose not quite as good
as you because you're a full time racer in supercars
and you're into year two now. Ryan runs for Walking
Toraw Andreddy United. He's running the mobile truck assess number
two car, the Mustang. And Ryan, you got off to
a much better start in Sydney than you did last
year in Baththurst. You must be happy enough about that.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
Yeah, obviously a bit better start. It's always nice when
you leave round one with some points in hands. So yes,
in the championship, not really where I want to be,
but like I said, it gives me a bit of
a platform to roll into to round two with and
then obviously after that we have have Taupo. So I'm
(01:07):
really excited to get back here to New Zealand and
race in front of a home crowd and yeah, hopefully
that'll that'll give me a bit of extra spirit because
I definitely know.
Speaker 4 (01:16):
What did last year, so can't wait to get back here.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
And you know, obviously to start the season a little
bit better is a nice way to kick off twenty
twenty five and and my second year in the main game,
So yeah, bring it on.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
You're feeling a little more comfortable about where you sit now.
Look at that top tree where you were sitting right now.
And it's often said that the older guys team to
bully the younger guys because they're just not experienced with
these supercars and how they operate. And it's pretty easy
to qualify high, but drop down guys aren't just used
(01:50):
to their elbows being out.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Do you experience that in the first year that that
rookie feel.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Yeah, one hundred percent.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
I think it even goes into year two where they
definitely don't just back down. So it's I think that's
what makes supercars so tough and what makes it hard
for the young guys coming in. It's not exactly just
the qualifying sort of stuff, but it's the racing.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
You know, you've got guys, even in.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
My teammate chairs Brody Kisticki, there's so many good guys
that are hard races, that don't just lie down when
you try to go for a move. So I think
that's what makes it really, really tough and what makes
supercars so exciting to watch. And I feel like Sydney
was one of those weekends where I feel like supercars
is coming back to its best with the action on
(02:35):
track and even off track.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
So you reckon it just eased up a wee bit
over the last couple of years. You probably can't say
that you'll get sacked, but maybe it's a little heavier
than it was in the previous couple of editions.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Is it fair.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
I wouldn't say it was eased up. I feel like
there was always probably a dominant factor or a dominant
driver in previous years, where now it feels like it's
a bit more open and saying that cam Water is
just one three from three, I feel like, you know,
even when someone is that dominant, you look how hard
(03:11):
he had to work on Saturday night in that race
with Brock, Like it's yeah, definitely not just it's weird.
You know, you have those those times where the main
driver or like the guy to beat sort of just
goes past everyone and they sort of let him go past,
where now I feel like it doesn't matter who it is.
(03:32):
They just battle for any position all the way down
to twenty four twenty fifth, you know, so I think
that's what makes it quite exciting to be a part
of right now as well.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
I'd suggest the Aussie drivers and I know the supercar
fans are fit up to the back teeth about being
schooled by Kiwi drivers. You guys been over there a
while and you slap them around with e so I
expect what is five of you on the grid. I'm
sure that gives them a little extra when they're looking
after you in these races. Not only are you a
rookie ish, but you're a key we They must hate
(04:03):
that rhyme.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
It's differently.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Not the easiest sometimes when you've got the Kiwi flag
on the side of the car. But at the end
of the day, you know, I love representing our country
and it's pretty cool to be over there doing that
and you know, have so much support from other Kiwi
drivers or from all different areas, so it's cool to
be a part of and you know, obviously being worth
(04:28):
Walkinshaw and Drew united to come from to be racing
for that team and be guided by Greg Murphy where
he raced for them for so many years.
Speaker 4 (04:37):
It's pretty special, to be honest.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
Not a bad acceleration for you to where you sit
right now. What Twitter eighty six back in twenty twenty
ran that for a couple of years. Then I think
you're in super two and twenty three did well and
suddenly you find yourself in the main game. Did you
expect to rise that quickly line?
Speaker 4 (05:00):
Definitely not.
Speaker 1 (05:01):
I feel like it's a pretty surreal feeling to be
where where I've always wanted to be for so many years.
But it happened so fast for me at the same time,
so it's sort of weird. I remember doing my first
race in cars in twenty twenty and then all of
a sudden, I think it was start of twenty twenty two,
(05:25):
end of twenty twenty one, I was moving to Australia
to raise Porsches. So it's, yeah, happened pretty quickly, and
you know, some days it's probably a good thing, and
some days it's a bad thing because you know, I
probably haven't had the amount of experience.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
Some other guys have had to get to supercars.
Speaker 1 (05:43):
But nonetheless, I'm taking it with both hands and just
trying to trying to take it by the scruff of
the neck and try to get some good results.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
You know, it's spent a bit of time. You said
over to run Porsches with Il Bamba, didn't you.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
Yeah, yep.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
So I won the Porsche New Zealand Scholarship and that
was an awesome program thanks to Giltrap Group and there
are awesome team there and was able to get over
to Australia and probably without them, I wouldn't be in
the position I am now. So it's you know, obviously
Earl's had a great relationship with them for so long
(06:19):
and then for them to start the Port New Zealand program,
it's pretty special to be a part of.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
You mentioned topol before. It's a massive race.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
It's a crazy old track and when it blows and
the pummus turns up, I suggest it's like no other
from last year.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
What changes for you? Do you believe? What can you
put down this time ramp? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (06:41):
I feel like for us as a team, we just
just need to really make a good car on tire
with obviously you guys saw last year it was very
abrasive and chewed up the tires and you had a
standout team with Triple eight and the dry on Sunday
that just dominated. So I feel like if it rains
again will be quite good because we were very good
(07:04):
there last year. But we just need to work out
a bit race car for the longer distance. But all
in all, really excited to get back to Taupo. It's
an awesome track. I feel like it's a really cool
atmosphere there last year, and I feel like it's going
to get even bigger this year.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
So I can't wait to get back.
Speaker 1 (07:22):
And yet hopefully it gets to the glory days like
old Bookie used to be.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Like walking Shore Andre to United de Peddler from their
mobile truck assessed Mustang. It's the number two, I add.
It's a strange old year, isn't it, Ryan, Because at
the end of the year there was a final series.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
It's gone all NASCAR on it. You got your head
around that.
Speaker 2 (07:44):
Yet, the way it works, what the top drivers end
up competing in the last three races for that top
prize a little difficult to expect for the fan base
to actually stomach.
Speaker 1 (07:54):
Yeah, it's different, but I think it's exciting. I think
you're going to see more desperate racing, and I think
that's good. For our sport, I think it's going to
be more desperate all the way down to tenth because
if you get to tenth and then you make it
into the finals and you end up being really fast
than the last four rounds, you can end up winning
the championship, you know. And I feel like that opens
(08:15):
it up to so many different different teams, And to
be honest, it's not much different to a final system
and a rugby or something like that competition, you know.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
So I feel like it's pretty fair and pretty exciting.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
Race one, two and three, first round of the camp
over in Sydney. We touched on that.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
But you stalled in race too, And if there's a
scarier moment in motorsport, I think stalling on the start
grid is probably Yet you didn't get clipped, but you
must have been squeezing for a.
Speaker 3 (08:48):
While there when that happened, going oh oh here we go.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Yeah, definitely pretty nerve wracking moment. Yeah, hopefully first then
last time stalling. But yeah, unfortunately the clutch failed on
loading on the loading phase and yeah it just was
a passenger from there. But you know, we fixed it
Sunday and yeah, hopefully get some good starts at the
Grand Prix.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
So what about the start race?
Speaker 2 (09:09):
I mean you qualified well what seventh places you see it,
but you kind of almost ran out of steam toward
the end of it, didn't You just didn't.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
Quite carry on with that pace? What was the issue there?
What has to change?
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Yeah, Like on Saturday we were really good.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
We were racing Will Brown there for a while and
sort of looking quite good and good stead for a
good result and then yeah, we just missed the window
a little bit on petting and tried to do two
ties and make the time back, but unfortunately the car
balance just went away, and you know, it's very hard
(09:45):
around that track. And then Saturday obviously stalled, and then
Sunday just got bit up in the first two laps
and yeah, we undercut a few cars and managed to.
Speaker 4 (09:54):
Get back to fourteenth.
Speaker 1 (09:55):
But yeah, I don't know, all know, it's it's one
of those weekends where you just go, well, at the
end of the day, we didn't get everything perfect and
we're fourteen.
Speaker 4 (10:06):
Think I would have been more gutted if.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
I I was to say I got our team and
I and myself got everything perfect and we were fourteenth.
Speaker 4 (10:14):
You'd be pretty gutted.
Speaker 1 (10:15):
But we've got plenty of stuff to improve on, which
is exciting, and yeah, we'll just try to put his
foot forward.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
And one last thing for you, Ryan would I know
it's only Ely Dawes did touch on it before and
I mean that was a crazy drag race with Cam
war is hold on? Who did Cam drag race? I
think it was? Was it race number two?
Speaker 4 (10:35):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (10:36):
It was, wasn't it? That was mad? But three from
three from three? Who beats the guy? Is it Thomas
Rand or is it Matt Pain? Is it Musted?
Speaker 4 (10:44):
Is it?
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Is it Brown? Where does the challenge come from?
Speaker 1 (10:46):
Hopefully myself that's that's the goal. Hopefully the Grand Prix
will be good. I live in the Albert Park, so
hopefully a bit of home track advantage. But no, I
think anybody can stop him. I don't think he's Yeah,
I think it's just going to be like that all year.
I think it's going to be wide open. But I
think cam Cam just drove very well and they obviously
(11:08):
had their car tuned in, but you saw it wasn't
easy for him, especially in race too, so I think
it shows that it's still wide open even if you
do have the fastest car.
Speaker 3 (11:18):
It's your home track. Please don't tell me.
Speaker 2 (11:20):
You get out on the weekend and we smalls and
squirt around the track, just having a crack.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
You don't do it. You behave yourself, right, Yeah, I
behave myself.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
I wouldn't do that, so I want to keep my job.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
For more from sports Talk, listen lived to News Talks.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
They'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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