Wood: Maiden Gen3 laps 'eye opening'

Walkinshaw Andretti United Super2 driver Ryan Wood has labelled his maiden Gen3 Supercar laps an “eye opening” yet fun experience.

Wood, 20, joined WAU’s full suite of drivers at Winton Motor Raceway this week.

The New Zealander sampled one of the team’s Gen3 Mustangs, which is a far cry from his older-gen ZB Commodore.

Wood’s laps were part of an evaluation day, given the Kiwi hasn’t got a co-drive for the 2023 enduros.

WAU has already called on veterans Lee Holdsworth and Fabian Coulthard, who also tested this weekend with respective co-drivers Chaz Mostert and Nick Percat.

“It was awesome to get behind the wheel of the Ford Mustang Gen3 car today,” said Wood, who is fourth in the Super2 standings.

"Certainly eye opening at times, but the team were great, and it was a lot of fun to drive.

“The whole day was pretty cool, I learnt a heap, but now my focus is on Sandown and the back half of the Super2 season.

Wood is fourth in the Super2 standings

“I’m excited to see how both cars go up in Sydney next week, fingers crossed it’s a good weekend for the team.”

Wood joined Zach Bates in WAU’s return to the second-tier series, with the former sweeping the round in Perth.

The laps come amid rumours Wood could score a 2024 Supercars seat, with plenty to play out in the silly season.

For WAU Team Principal Bruce Stewart, Wood’s laps were a reflection of the team’s ambition to give junior members an opportunity to learn the ropes ahead of possible future opportunities.

“It was great to have Ryan behind the wheel of the Ford Mustang today,” Stewart said.

“Providing the opportunity for young talent to drive a Gen3 Supercar is exactly what these days are for, so it’s great to see it come to fruition.

"Opportunities like this are the exact reason we’ve started the WAU Foundation Academy, not just for drivers but all staff members, so we are looking forward to working through possibilities with Zach as well.

“Today followed on from a positive test yesterday with Nick and Chaz, and Lee and Fabian got some valuable laps as well, so we’ve got plenty to go through back at Clayton before Sydney on the main game side of things.

“It’s awesome to give Ryan, and our young engineers and mechanics the chance to do a full day of running at Winton, but now our full focus is Sydney next week, and Ryan’s on Sandown.”

Wood's Super2 campaign will resume at the Penrite Oil Sandown 500 on September 15-17.