Tander: Execution, not speed, Wood's biggest Finals hurdle

Supercars champion Garth Tander believes execution, not a lack of speed, is holding Ryan Wood back from becoming a genuine Finals contender in 2025.

The Walkinshaw Andretti United driver has been one of the breakout stars in 2025, claiming a maiden podium in New Zealand, and maiden pole and win in Perth.

Through six rounds, Wood is ranked fourth in qualifying, behind only Broc Feeney, Matt Payne and Cam Waters, and ahead of reigning champion Will Brown.

However, the Kiwi is still only 11th in the championship standings amid a run of mechanical failures, penalties and incidents.

Notably, Wood was penalised for lap 1 run-ins with Jack Le Brocq (Melbourne) and Brodie Kostecki (Taupō), collided with Aaron Cameron (Tasmania), suffered a suspension failure while leading (Perth), crashed with James Golding (Perth), and retired with an engine failure (Darwin).

Through all the speed, with 13 top 10 starts in 18 races, Wood is still outside the top 10, which is where drivers need to be to secure a Finals spot by the end of Bathurst.

“The pace is not the question, it’s the execution. We’ve seen a lot of mechanical failures with this car, Wood is still getting himself caught up in the little things," Tander said on the broadcast.

“Don’t forget, this is post-enduros, so there’s so many points available at The Bend and at Bathurst.  

“I mean, I hope that he gets in, because we should reward those who are doing a great job, and Ryan has done a great job. 

From Brodie Kostecki in sixth to James Courtney in 18th, 13 drivers are covered by 309 points with 1230 left to win by the end of Bathurst before the Finals contenders are locked in.

"It’s easy to pick the couple that are just in at the moment, Cam Hill, Anton De Pasquale, and they’ve been in and out, in and out, in and out," Tander added.

“So that’s what makes Bathurst so important, there’s so many points on offer. You could be 290 points out, and still get in, so there’s still so much water to go under the bridge with regards to this. 

“That’s why everyone wants, I think the first four are a lock, they’re through to the next phase, but anyone after that still has to make sure they dot their I’s and cross their T’s.”