Winner Wood explains radio outburst, praises 'smart' Mostert
Ryan Wood explains radio outburst, praises "smart" Chaz Mostert
Long-time leader Wood fumed over team radio after Mostert emerged ahead
Mostert let Wood through, Wood claimed Toyota's first Supercars win
Ryan Wood has explained what triggered his radio outburst after the long-time Race 9 leader emerged behind teammate Chaz Mostert in the final pit cycle.
Wood led Walkinshaw TWG Racing and Toyota to an historic victory in Sunday’s ITM Taupō Super 440 finale, leading 42 of 60 laps from pole position.
It wasn’t without its stressful moments, though, with Mostert inadvertently emerging in front of Wood through the second stops. After rejoining, Wood remonstrated over team radio, saying: “Are you f***ing serious?”
In response, engineer Richard Harris replied: “I'm giving you the facts mate, I'm not happy about it either, but eyes forward." Walkinshaw TWG CEO Bruce Stewart explained the outcome also caught the team off-guard.
Mostert led for nine laps, but with Broc Feeney in hot pursuit, played the team game to perfection to first let Wood through, before denying Feeney any chance of getting to the leader. Mostert was determined to protect his teammate’s win, which was Toyota’s first in Supercars.
The result was an emotional one for Wood, who clarified that his initial radio exchange with engineer Richard Harris was one of “surprise” that a car — his teammate, no less — jumped him.
"I just felt like I executed, I felt like I did a really good job in the first stint, and that was probably the most important stint to really get track position,” Wood said post-race.
“And then Chaz got track position in that last stint and I was pretty dirty and as you guys probably know, I was blowing up. But that wasn't anything other than just being a surprise that a car had jumped us.
"We had sort of covered everyone all day long. You know, when you get to the final stint and you’ve led the whole race, it's like a nightmare unfolding. Lucky enough that we had enough speed.
"Chaz was really smart, he sort of knew that I was coming towards him. I think he was looking after it a little bit.”
Wood was unsure just how fast Feeney was closing in, but the selfless efforts of Mostert ensured the winners’ trophies ended up in the hands of Walkinshaw TWG.
“A really, really great team result. That's the most important thing, we need to make sure that we keep moving forward,” Wood added.
“We've probably had good speed at times to start the year, but, to say that we've won a race and had a podium and we've shared the podium together in our third round with Toyota.
“If you told us that at the start of the year, I'm sure me, Chaz, and the rest of the team would be pretty ecstatic.”
Wood and Mostert moved to fifth and seventh in points heading to Christchurch.
