Latest drama "gut-wrenching" for Ryan Wood
Walkinshaw TWG star feeling Finals pinch after non-score
Wood forced out of Perth finale from fourth on the grid
Toyota star Ryan Wood has labelled his latest mechanical non-score as “gut-wrenching,” as the Kiwi slips towards the Finals cut-line.
The Walkinshaw TWG Racing driver returned to form with a brilliant podium on Saturday, but crashed back to earth on Sunday.
A suspected airbox issue sidelined Wood, with Walkinshaw TWG CEO Bruce Stewart adding that there was "some kind of backfire through the manifold.”
It was Wood’s third non-score of the season, after engine issues (Christchurch) and power steering (Darwin).
“A pretty disappointing way to end for everyone here at Walkinshaw TWG Racing,” Wood said in a team video.
“Really gut-wrenching, just one of those things. We can be proud of our efforts this weekend, a P2, back on the podium.
"Felt like I was back in my good rhythm, so I'm really proud of what we achieved and we'll come back at QR.”
Stewart took responsibility for the issue, adding: “It’s disappointing, challenging. We’re learning but it doesn’t make it easy. We’re a proud team, we’ve got a great engine team, but it’s on us.
“We’ve got to do the learning, it’s our engine and in that respect... Toyota has a great saying: we race, we learn, you win.
“We’re in an uncomfortable learning period but we’ve got the right people and I know we’ll find the right solution.
“We’ve got a really good plan mapped out, but it doesn’t make it hurt [less]. It’s very disappointing for us, our fans, our supporters and the faithful team at Toyota.
“But again, it’s on us.”
Wood dropped below teammate Chaz Mostert into ninth overall, and is 160 points ahead of 11th placed James Golding heading to Ipswich.
"It’s getting tight in the top 10, so that really hurt us then,” Wood added.
“But we'll come back."
