Wood furious over costly Allen clash

Ryan Wood’s Finals hopes have suffered another blow following a clash with Kai Allen in Race 21.

The Walkinshaw TWG Racing driver was forced into the garage with steering damage after a battle with Allen went wrong midway through Saturday’s race.

Wood and Allen were part of a five-strong gaggle of cars including Broc Feeney, Will Brown and Chaz Mostert, with Brown sustaining damage from a hit from Wood.

The damage on the Brown Ford cleared, with the 2024 Supercars champion passing Wood in the process.

Allen attacked Wood on lap 41 into Turn 11, where the race went wrong for the WTWGR driver in a dramatic moment.

Allen slid the rear of the #26 Penrite Ford and made contact with Wood’s front right wheel. Instant damage left Wood stranded, while those around him carried on.

Wood, who suffered mechanical failure-related DNFs in Christchurch and Darwin, fumed over team radio to engineer Richard Harris after the clash.

Wood, who returned to the race on lap 49, bellowed over team radio: "These guys are taking the piss, man.”

Speaking post-race, Wood lashed driving standards, saying: "I just know what the standard is at the moment, and I'll try and do the same tomorrow, force people to either crash or get out of the way.

"It just feels like everything is getting pushed to the extra envelope because it is so competitive at the moment."

The New Zealander entered Saturday on a run of nine consecutive starts without a podium heading into Race 21, his last trophy coming in Christchurch in April.

Wood started Saturday 157 points clear of the Finals cut-line, with that margin slashed to 105 points.