Ryan Wood: Kiwi Supercars driver on his year so far, success in racing

It’s been an incredible rise for Kiwi Supercars driver Ryan Wood. 

Racing for Walkinshaw Andretti United last year, he helped the team to 3rd in the Teams Championship —their highest finish since 2016— and was widely considered the best rookie on the grid. 

This year has already seen him claim a win in race 14, with multiple podium appearances under his belt, as well as a host of Top 10 finishes.  

Wood told Mike Hosking he’s really happy with the improvements they’ve made over the last year since moving into the main game. 

“It’s been a great year so far,” he said. 

“Really excited for, obviously, the big races coming up, and it should be a huge challenge.” 

“Hopefully we’re ready for it.”  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The name we've not featured on the show despite our
love of motor racing is Ryan. What he is one
of supercars hot tickets at the moment. He races for
Walking Shore Andrety United. One of the great names of motorsport.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
Of course.

Speaker 1 (00:10):
In his rookie year, which was last year, he was
best rookie on the grid. This year so far he's
got to win a couple of podiums and a bunch
of top tens. Now, the competition at the moment, if
you follow, it's on a bit of a break until
the twelfth of September. They're into the enduro mode for
the rest of the season ahead of the big Bathurst
of course. Anyway, Ryan, what is with us? Good morning?

Speaker 3 (00:27):
Good morning mate, how are you look?

Speaker 1 (00:29):
I'm good mate, Thank you, But let me first just
congratulate you on all you're doing at the moment. What
a thriller is to watch your success.

Speaker 2 (00:35):
It's brilliant. How do you think you're handling it all?

Speaker 3 (00:38):
Well? Thank you. Yeah, it's obviously been a great year
so far. And yeah, really happy with the improvements we've
made over the last probably twelve months since moving into
main game. And yeah, just really excited for Obviously, the
big race is coming up and it should be a
huge challenge and hopefully we're ready for it.

Speaker 2 (00:59):
And what about a team of yours? What do they
give you?

Speaker 1 (01:02):
Because really, you're with one of the most famous teams
in the business, aren't you.

Speaker 3 (01:05):
Yeah. I am lucky enough to be obviously with walking
through Indrety United and they were I guess the team
in the heyday when they were back HRT And to
be following on from a few of my Ardol's footsteps
and being part of a team as as great as
ours is really special and I think for us we're

(01:27):
just you know, trying to strive towards greatness again and
I feel like we're hitting that way and obviously next
year with a new car coming in, should be exciting
as well.

Speaker 1 (01:39):
I was watching a couple of weekends ago. You're at Ipswich.
Have you been to Ipswitch a lot?

Speaker 3 (01:43):
No. I haven't been to Appy for probably two or
three years, so it was awesome to get back there
and we had an awesome weekend and you know, our
carver was super speedy and made a little era in
the last race. But it's part of learning and I've
been able to use that to move forward.

Speaker 1 (02:03):
Yeah, and how much pressure is on you? You know,
they gave you your big break, what's expected of you?
I mean, what specifically do they tell you how much
pressure is on you? And do you feel that?

Speaker 3 (02:14):
I guess for me, you know, you always have pressure
growing up because you're always trying to prove yourself and
that sort of stuff. And I felt like last year
I didn't have any added pressure from anyone but myself.
But I felt like the biggest thing was actually, you know,
just being able to handle the workload of everything, which

(02:36):
is quite a bit different. I went from racing six
weekends of a year to fifteen, so being able to
cope with that was probably the biggest step up. And
you know, for me, trying to get my head around that.
And I guess the pressure of ratings has always been
there since you were seven years old, but you're only

(02:56):
again doing a few weekends.

Speaker 1 (02:57):
Of the year.

Speaker 3 (03:00):
I guess the biggest part is the mental and the
physical side of racing in main game supercars is a
lot higher than the junior ranks. And you know, over
a race weekend, we're meeting hundreds and hundreds of different
people and fans that make our sport go round, which
is probably the coolest part of my job and being

(03:22):
able to meet everyone and that sort of stuff. But
to keep up with that is a full time job
just about it in itself. So yeah, I wouldn't say
the precious side is something I worry about too much
because you're always out there trying to do your best.
But at the end of the day, you know you
can only do so much with it's alls you're given

(03:42):
and how much preparation you put in, and I feel like,
you know, for me, it's just about making sure I
turn up to the racetrack as well prepared as that
can be.

Speaker 2 (03:51):
Here's the thing.

Speaker 1 (03:51):
Every time we have one of you guys race car
driver on the program, people always comment and say how
articulate everybody in the sport is what do you reckon
to do about motorsport the levels people out you know,
decent people emerge because of your sport.

Speaker 3 (04:07):
I would say it's probably because a lot of people
have had to sacrifice a lot, so being in the
position they are in, they probably feel very fortunate and
appreciative of what they have and that's probably something that
I'm I've taken on board. It's interesting you say that
because I wouldn't say everyone's an awesome bloken motorsport, but

(04:29):
it's yeah, definitely. You know, you you surround yourself with
some cool people and you get to meet amazing families
that are along the way.

Speaker 2 (04:38):
And.

Speaker 3 (04:40):
Yeah, I guess the best part about motorsport is you
make lifelong friends. So yeah, I would say, I don't
know what it is. It's probably just because, like I said,
you sacrifice so much to get there, and once you're there,
you're sort of, you know, just enjoying the moment.

Speaker 2 (04:56):
Of course you do.

Speaker 1 (04:57):
Now listen what your observation line AHV experience because you're young,
of course, yes, is it experience that potentially holds you
back or accelerate to you or do you reckon? It's age.

Speaker 3 (05:10):
That's a tough one because I'm only two years in
so I can't come in on either. But I know
for a fact it's very hard to get into supercars
and Mango being young because they always want experience. But
you can only get experience if you're giving a shot.
And I was lucky enough to be given a shot
by walking to Andrew to United and you know, I

(05:32):
think fingers crossed, I can be here for a long
time and be able to prove to them, you know,
age and experiences and are worry for me and we
can just you know, go out there and want as
many races as we can and that sort of stuff.
I'm not too sure to answer your question, but all
I know is I'm twenty one trying to get as

(05:53):
much experience as I can, and you know, that's sort
of where I'm at.

Speaker 2 (05:58):
And what's what's the big picture planned?

Speaker 1 (06:00):
Because I mean, at twenty one, you look at a
guard and I liked, say Will Davidson, So the gap
between you and him age wise.

Speaker 2 (06:07):
Is you could be there for many, many, many years.

Speaker 3 (06:10):
Yeah, it's funny you say that, Like I was actually
training with Tim Slade this morning and we're, you know,
different ends of our career and he's obviously older and
I'm younger, and he's had a really long and successful
career and you look at that and that's something obviously
I want to achieve. But I don't really have my

(06:30):
sight set on anything other than supercars, so that's sort
of my short term plan. But obviously if I go
out there and win a championship and Bathurst in the
next two years.

Speaker 1 (06:45):
And who knows old Bathurstay, now that's what two race
meetings away? Are you thinking about that already?

Speaker 3 (06:52):
Yeah, you're thinking about that's all year long. So I
can't wait to get there. That's why I'm sort of
up on the Goldie at the moment, doing a training
camp to really make sure that I get to the
mountain and when I'm well prepared and can last the
track walk because I tell you what walking around that
place is is hard work. So looking forward to getting

(07:14):
back there. And you know, for me, last year was
my first Bathurst one thousands, so I felt like I've
learned a lot over the last twelve months. And yeah,
it's just can't wait to get going. We've obviously got
Taylor Ben coming up and that should be a nice
little curtain raiser and then the big dance, so I'm

(07:35):
pretty sure everyone's pretty excited for it.

Speaker 1 (07:37):
It's just such a different races and I mean, you're
into the endurance end of the season anyway, but Bathurst
is like, I mean, you're all good drivers. What's the
magic is it?

Speaker 2 (07:47):
Luck? I mean, anything can happen on the day, can't it.

Speaker 3 (07:51):
I think Bathurst chooses to win away before you know,
we've got any any saying it, So yeah, we'll see
how we go. Hopefully the mountain has chosen us nicely
this year and we can go from there. But it's
obviously just such an amazing atmosphere and event two nations

(08:11):
get around it, the whole world sort of gets around
it to a certain degree, so you've got eyes on
you from all parts of the world, which is really
exciting and just you know, it makes you When I
remember getting there last year being with FABS, I couldn't
have asked for anyone better for my first year to
really guide me through it and enjoy the moment because

(08:33):
you only get your first batist once, and you know
this year there's definitely a bit more, I guess, pressure
to execute and have a good race. So I think
just what makes you stand out is you know, it's
a mountain and it's a built in racetrack. It's something
you don't see very often, so it's pretty exciting.

Speaker 1 (08:54):
Now we haven't mentioned Greg Murphy yet, and I know
group pretty well, and everyone speaks so well of what
Riggs doing with you and helping you out.

Speaker 2 (09:02):
What's his magic in terms of what he's helping.

Speaker 3 (09:05):
You with, I'd say Mrph's biggest thing is that he
keeps me accountable. You know, he's on my I'm asked
a lot, which is amazing for me. Sometimes it gets tiring.
If you know him well, then you know what he's like.
But the biggest thing with Murph is he's been there

(09:26):
and done everything that I'm going through. It's not more
so to have someone like that being able to lean
on him and you know, really make sure that I'm
getting the most out of myself and and that sort
of stuff is second to none. So super grateful to
have him in my corner, along with so many others.
And you know, it's a cool little network I've got

(09:50):
going at the moment.

Speaker 2 (09:51):
Well, it sounds like it's going really well.

Speaker 1 (09:53):
So good luck by the way, Taylor been in a
couple of weeks time, and obviously good luck at Beth.
It's good to have you on the program. Great to
chat with you, and all the very best for the
rest of the season.

Speaker 3 (10:01):
Awesome thanks mate, Cheers mate.

Speaker 1 (10:03):
Ryan Wood, good guy out of Walking Shore Andretti So
September twelve. I think I said for Tailor been ahead
of the other big one at Baptist another key wee
doing there's so many now, isn't there which is good
to see. For more from the mic Asking Breakfast, listen
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