"Forensic" deep dive needed for Ryan Wood slump
Wood clawed back to 14th after falling as low as 21st
Toyota driver starts Sunday 60 points below cut-line
Walkinshaw TWG Racing is leaving nothing on the table for Ryan Wood on Sunday, after the Kiwi dropped like a stone on Saturday.
The Toyota squad had mixed emotions on Saturday, celebrating victory for reigning champion Chaz Mostert while chasing answers to Wood’s costly slump.
Starting 10th after incurring a kerb strike on his Shootout lap, Wood plummeted to 21st at the halfway point of the 250km race in a troubled second stint. The team swung changes to the front of Wood’s car for the final stint, and the New Zealander recovered to 14th, somewhat limiting the damage.
It’s believed different wet tyre batches may have caught Wood out, something WTWGR CEO Bruce Stewart also suspected, telling Supercars.com: “I don't know if it was a bad batch or something, but he just couldn't switch the tyres on.
"In the second stint, pressures were in the zone and temp was pretty good. But he was a second half off what Chaz could do.
“And then he came out with a fresh set and cold tyres, and he was spot on. He was back up to speed. So it was disappointing.
“We'll have to forensically go through and understand what's happened there, if it's a batch or we had a setting wrong."
Wood heads into Sunday 60 points below the cut-off, and needing a huge race to avoid a second consecutive Elimination Final exit.
The New Zealander has the full support of his team to get the job done, Stewart adding: “The kid can drive, and he a magician as well behind the wheel.
"He's got a special talent, and for us, the team has to focus on getting him retribution tomorrow to move forwards.
“There wouldn't be anything more special than having both cars at Sandown."
The final day of the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 begins with Boost Mobile Qualifying at 11:20am local time/12:20pm AEDT.
