Wood locked in for NZ open wheel season, Grand Prix start

Ryan Wood will become the latest Supercars star to test himself in New Zealand's flagship Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy open wheel category.

The Walkinshaw Andretti United driver has been announced as the latest Tony Quinn Foundation grant recipient, and will race in the open wheel series this summer.

It comes after Supercars rivals Will Brown and Broc Feeney contested last year’s New Zealand Grand Prix, which is the showpiece event of the CTFROT. Brown won the race, after Feeney claimed pole.

Back in 2021, Shane van Gisbergen won the Grand Prix, beating Andre Heimgartner and a young Matt Payne.

The $40,000 grant helps Wood enter the series, which is the premier category of the Repco NextGen NZ Championship. Wood joins rising Kiwi star Louis Sharp as one of two recipients of the 2025 Tony Quinn Foundation CTFROT grant.

“Ryan wanted to follow in the footsteps of what Will Brown and Broc Feeney did last season in CTFROT. He loves driving and he loves new challenges, and he sees this as a great opportunity to keep learning and broadening his skill set,” Tony Quinn Foundation Trustee and longtime mentor Greg Murphy said.

"He knows the competition is incredibly tough, but that’s exactly why he’s doing it — to stay sharp and continue developing before another Supercars season. He was one of our supported drivers a few years ago, so it’s great to have him representing the Foundation again.”

Wood added: “I’ve always been eager to compete in CTFROT ever since I first watched it back in 2014. We came really close in 2021 before COVID, so it’s awesome to finally get a deal done this year with great backing from the Tony Quinn Foundation and so many others.

“To be competing in the New Zealand Grand Prix is a real bucket-list race for me. I never thought I’d get the opportunity, so it’s super special to be racing in New Zealand’s most iconic event.

"It’s also really cool to link back up with TQF — I’ve been lucky enough to have their support before, but to now be racing in New Zealand at Tony’s circuits with TQF backing is super special.”

Wood will make his CTFROT debut at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park on January 9–11. The 70th New Zealand Grand Prix will be held at Highlands on January 30-February 1.

Supercars returns to New Zealand next April for an historic double header at Taupo and Christchurch. Tickets are on sale now.