'Towards perfection': Wood sheds light on impact of mentor Murphy
Ryan Wood sheds light on impact of mentor Greg Murphy
Rising Kiwi eyes Bathurst, championship wins within next three years
Murphy has been in Wood's corner since mid-2024
Ryan Wood is determined to have Bathurst and championship wins within the next three years, and should he pull it off, he will have Greg Murphy to thank.
Four-time Bathurst 1000 winner Murphy emerged in Wood's corner midway through the youngster's rookie campaign in 2024, and is now the rising star’s mentor and manager.
Most recently, Murphy was trackside in Melbourne as Wood tackled Round 2 of the 2026 Repco Supercars Championship. Wood, still only 22, duly claimed Toyota’s first podium.
The continued efforts of Murphy have helped Wood deliver a career-best start to a season, ahead of a triumphant return home for the ITM NZ Double Header.
"Greg's been massive. He actually manages me,” Wood told Sport Nation.
"I've been on the phone to him two or three times today. We speak most days. He’s been one of the biggest influences on my career lately, probably the last three to five years.
“It's been a massive help and especially like those moments, where there's I guess controversy and that sort of stuff. It's just all about leaning on people with experience and good advice, and he has really provided me with that.”
Wood explained that Murphy’s leadership goes beyond the car — rather, Murphy is key to sharpening Wood’s mindset and preparation, rather than solely finding speed.
Murphy said it was tough love that initially moulded Wood. Now, it's about fine-tuning.
"I think it's more around just preparation, mindset,” Wood said.
“The driving stuff, probably not so much now because back when he did it, it's so different now. You obviously talk to him about scenarios and battles or that sort of stuff, but it's more around the mindset stuff.
“Like if I do make a move or if I get into a battle and I come off second best, it's like, what would he have done differently or what does he see, other things I can improve on in those scenarios.
“It's all the little one percenters and, he's definitely helped me get better at those, but something that I'm still working on massively to make sure my craft’s getting towards perfection.”
Wood wants to become one of Supercars’ elite, yet admitted he’s a way off yet due to repeated mistakes, such as the costly collision with Thomas Randle in Melbourne.
"I think for myself it would be just putting myself in a position to win big races like Bathurst, going to the final four in Adelaide and being in the championship hunt,” Wood said.
“Just really solidifying myself as a really top echelon driver in Supercars. I feel like we're sort of hovering on the edge, but a lot of that comes down to my own personal mistakes.
“Winning a Bathurst in the next three years would be amazing. I know how hard it is. We came very close last year and I feel like if we keep building the package we've got with the Toyota, I think that's really possible this year.
“Looking forward, that's a big one I want to tick. And then trying to win a championship, being in the conversation, being in the hunt would be really, really great.
“That would look like success if we can have a couple of final four appearances and challenge for Bathurst wins."
Wood will resume his 2026 campaign in Taupō on April 10-12. Tickets for the ITM NZ Double Header are on sale now.
