How Toyota motorsport chief's 'gut feeling' rang true in Taupō fairytale

On the surface, Toyota's first Supercars win could be seen as a major shock.

Against Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang packages that have been continually refined over more than three years of Gen3 competition, the Japanese giant arrived at Sydney in February admitting there was a long road ahead.

Six weeks later, and Ryan Wood claimed a stunning win on home soil in Taupō, establishing the GR Supra as a force to be reckoned with in the right hands, even in the early phase of it's development cycle.

However, it didn't come as a surprise to one key figure. In fact, what turned out to be the shortest road to victory by a new Supercars manufacturer in the modern era was somewhat pre-empted by Toyota Australia's Motorsport Manager Ben Casagrande.

"I'll have to be honest with you, when I was flying over I had a gut feeling," Casagrande admitted on the Cool Down Lap presented by Equip Super.

"I don't know why, but I thought, 'This feels like it could be our weekend.'

"Woody's always been strong here, so it felt right, I should be saying I didn't think this was going to happen, but that gut feeling was there.

"What a cool feeling. This might get a bit addictive."

Several experts had also predicted Taupō to be a circuit that would favour the Toyota, with Supercars.com declaring Toyota were a race-winning threat, as did Supercars' data analyst Scott Sinclair.

Yet, few could've predicted the way in which it happened, with Wood controlling the race from the front and overcoming late drama in what could be seen as a coming of age for the 22-year-old.

However, Casagrande wasn't getting ahead of himself: "I try not to read any of the press to be honest. I did see a few little bits and pieces around this could be Toyota's track.

"I don't know what more to say than being very proud of the Walkinshaw team, so proud of Woody, the New Zealand kid getting to have a win at home in front of his home crowd.

"That's pretty special stuff, and to be the first win for Toyota, a little bit speechless to be honest."

Casagrande, who has overseen a period of sustained dominance for Toyota in the Australian Rally Championship, spent the final laps with Supercars Hall of Fame inductee Neil Crompton, who was pivotal in Toyota joining the category.

A veteran of nearly 50 years in the motorsport industry, Crompton was brought to tears post-race at the culmination of a decades-long journey, proclaiming the victory as, "A huge moment in my life."

Those emotions were passed onto Casagrande, who admitted holding back tears of his own as Wood was joined by WTWGR teammate Chaz Mostert on the podium after a spirited defence of Broc Feeney.

"I reckon probably halfway through the final lap, Crompo was standing right next to me, and we've been through a lot as a group.

"There's a lot of people behind this, but in that moment I just hugged the guy and said a few things I probably shouldn't say on this pod, but a couple of a misty eyes and everything.

"I'm talking now, but Carl Faux, Adam Austin, Bruce [Stewart], all the Toyota team back in Melbourne, there's been so many people that have put hard work and long hours, and the cliche of blood, sweat, and tears into this.

"I've been texting a few of them and just saying, 'You should be proud.' Vin [Naidoo] and Sean [Hanley] really pushed this forward, they should be proud, and I've got no doubt they are very proud for this one."

Toyota will have four chances to add to their win tally when the 2026 Repco Supercars Championship continues at the ITM Christchurch Super 440 this weekend.