The key message in Walkinshaw TWG container meeting
Walkinshaw TWG members huddled in the container shortly after Race 13
Ryan Wood lost Jason Richards Trophy with DNF, with Chaz Mostert penalised
WTWGR CEO Bruce Stewart says team "should be holding their heads high"
Walkinshaw TWG Racing has been urged to be "holding their heads high" following a chastening end to proceedings in Christchurch.
With seven laps remaining in the ITM Christchurch Super 440, Ryan Wood had one hand on the Jason Richards Trophy, with Chaz Mostert on track for a top five.
Wood’s Toyota Supra then stopped on track, delivering a Safety Car which triggered a controversial clash between Mostert and Brodie Kostecki.
The heartbroken Wood watched on trackside as the race concluded, with Broc Feeney taking the Richards Trophy from his grasp. Such was the feeling post-race, that Feeney felt remorse for arch-rival Wood.
Mostert, meanwhile, was handed a 30-second penalty over the Kostecki clash. All told, WTWGR recorded a 17th and DNF on a day it was on track for deserved emotional celebrations.
In the immediate aftermath of the race, members of WTWGR — including both drivers, and Wood’s mentor Greg Murphy — had a private chat inside the team’s container.
There, the message was clear: acknowledge the pain, but recognise the highs — such as Wood’s historic Taupō win — and don’t let the final day define a strong two weeks in New Zealand.
“Tough day.” WTWGR CEO Bruce Stewart said on Supercars’ Equip Super Cool Down Lap podcast.
“It hurts. But we had a bit of a chat and talked about it, the team should ultimately be holding their heads high from what happened in New Zealand.
“Today's a kick in the guts, but it won't define the whole New Zealand thing. We brought back a lot of trophy silverware and the great win in Taupō.“Eyes forward to Tassie, and let's go.”
Murphy, who was first to meet Wood when the young Kiwi returned to the paddock after the race, insisted that heartbreak is part of the game.
“They're in the infancy still of development on this car. These things do happen, can happen,” Murphy said on the Equip Super Cool Down Lap podcast.
“Everyone's just got to lift again. Bruce took everyone into the container and [said] everyone should be proud of what they've been doing.
"You can't base everything just on that one moment. You've actually got to have a bit of a bigger open look at things and see the bigger part to it all. And there's a lot to be proud of in the last two weeks, right?
"So, let's remember those things. Adversity is going to all of a sudden just disappear, you're never going to have it again. It's going to turn up, it's going to rear its head again. And that’s part of it.
“We’re four rounds into the championship of a brand new car, and there's a lot to understand."
Wood and Mostert are sixth and 11th in the drivers’ standings respectively, with WTWGR third in teams’.
