Wood signs multi-year WAU contract extension
Ryan Wood signs multi-year WAU contract extension
Wood was promoted to main game by WAU in 2024
Rising Kiwi star has two top fours, a front row in seven rounds
Walkinshaw Andretti United has shored up its driver line-up for coming seasons, with Kiwi rookie Ryan Wood signing a new “multi-year” extension.
Wood, 20, was promoted to the main game by WAU this year following a standout 2023 season with the team in the Dunlop Series.
Through seven rounds in 2024, Wood has already claimed two top four finishes and a front row start, and is only 201 points from the top 10 despite leaving Round 1 with zero points.
The new “multi-year” deal reflects WAU’s commitment to the rising star, who has improved each round under championship contender Chaz Mostert.
Together, the duo have pushed WAU to third in the teams' championship, and just 13 points behind Ford rival Tickford Racing with 2890 still to win in the final five rounds.
Mostert and Wood will form WAU’s line-up for 2025 least, with Mostert signing a “long-term" extension with the team late last year.
“It’s so awesome to be able to extend with the team, there’s nowhere else I’d rather be, and it’s really nice to know it’s all locked away, and my focus can be on racing and developing,” Wood said.
“It was a pretty easy decision to be honest, from the moment I walked in here it felt like home, and it’s a really cool feeling to have that same support and trust back from everyone here.
“The word ‘family' gets thrown around a lot, but it’s the perfect way to describe how we operate.
“I think we are building something special here at Walkinshaw Andretti United, and I’m really excited to see what we can do in the next few years together. I’m looking forward to repaying the faith everyone has shown me from the start.”
In a vote of confidence for the New Zealander, WAU Director Ryan Walkinshaw said there "wasn’t any reason" not to get Wood locked away with the team "as soon as possible."
"We are really excited to share the news that we’ve locked in our future with Ryan," Walkinshaw said.
"It wasn’t a tough decision for any of us, we had another year left on Ryan’s existing contract, but we are extremely confident of the future we have together. There wasn’t any reason not to get it locked away as soon as possible.
“He’s already showed results far beyond his experience in his first six months in the category, sometimes we have to remind ourselves of just how young he is, and how early into his racing career he is.
“Not only is he an outstanding talent on track with an incredibly bright future, but he is fantastic for our team culturally as well – we love having him here. We can’t wait to see him alongside Chaz long into the future.”
Mostert and Wood will continue their 2024 campaigns at this weekend’s NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint. Tickets for the event are on sale now.
Live coverage can be found on Foxtel, with live streaming available on Kayo. Highlights will be shown on the Seven Network and 7plus. International viewers can follow all the action on Superview.
