Wood claims dominant maiden Formula Regional Oceania victory
Ryan Wood claims maiden Formula Regional Oceania race win in Taupō
Walkinshaw TWG Racing star led from pole in dominant performance
Kiwi claimed maiden Supercars podium in Taupō last year
Walkinshaw TWG Racing star Ryan Wood has claimed his maiden victory in the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy in a dominant lights-to-flag display at Taupō.
The 22-year-old started from a maiden pole position in just his second weekend in an open-wheeler, and led the 18-lap affair in it's entirety, beating American Ugo Ugochukwu by two and half seconds.
To further underscore the dominance, Wood completed a grand slam by also claiming the fastest lap of the race.
It continues a happy relationship the Wellington native enjoys with the North Island circuit, claiming his best result of his rookie Supercars season with a fourth in 2024, before claiming his maiden Supercars podium last year.
It was a strong fightback for Wood, who was an innocent bystander in a multi-car accident on the opening lap of the Feature Race in the opening event at Hampton Downs last weekend.
"Big credit to out whole team, obviously Sunday last week was rough, but they got the car built back up and it's been a jet ever since," said Wood post-race.
"I'm really happy, I can't thank the MTEC [Motorsport] team enough, all my sponsors, it feels nice.
"I've still got a bit of work to do I think, Ugo was crusing there a fair bit and then would push. I think we're there or thereabouts, but more than happy."
Wood will start back in eighth in the partial reverse grid race later this afternoon, before another qualifying session and two races will be held tomorrow.
