'Woody's faster': Mostert made crucial call to 'protect' historic 1-2
Chaz Mostert paved the way for Ryan Wood to seal historic Taupō victory
Mostert emerged as surprise leader ahead of dominant Wood in final stint
Wood was let through by his teammate, and raced away to victory
Chaz Mostert was the architect of the call that paved the way for Ryan Wood to seal an historic victory for Toyota and Walkinshaw TWG Racing in New Zealand.
The record books will show Wood won Race 9 from pole, but a surprise in the second pit cycle saw teammate Mostert emerge in the effective lead.
After leading for nine laps, Mostert side-stepped for Wood into Turn 1. Over team radio, Mostert said: “I’ll protect the win, Woody’s faster."
Broc Feeney was closing fast, and muscled past Mostert for second. However, the battle ensured Wood had enough margin to cruise home, and soak up the cheers from Kiwi fans.
It brought Mostert and Wood full circle, given the latter was Mostert's wingman in the 2025 Finals, notably delaying Will Brown at Sandown.
“The two out laps were like 10-tenths, like qualifiers, and I was quite surprised to jump him, to be honest,” Mostert said post-race.
“I knew it was our job at that stage to get on with it as fast as we can. I felt really confident in the second stint, so I just took the same confidence into the last stint.
“We probably died off a little bit more than probably what I would have liked in that one, but at that time, Woody caught me.
“You’re trying to get that dream, fairytale of a 1-2, and you don’t want to be that driver that costs a 1-2, or potentially just a win even if you can't hang onto second.
“He was the faster guy today and I just tried to do the best thing I could, which was trying to go get that 1-2.”
Mostert conceded that the #2 had a pace advantage anyway, continuing: “[Wood] was always going to get me. He was able to turn under me in different places.
“He had the final stint car, like I had in the middle stint. It was just so bizarre that the windows are so small, especially around here, with the fuel weight and how the balance changes, it’s really, really tricky, especially on the new Soft [tyre].
"For us a bit older boys, it’s really a bit like sim, you’ve just got to hit your marks and believe that the car is going to do this.”
