Wood Juggles Points Lead and Main Series Drive

The Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 is a huge event with multiple categories competing over the days leading up to the Great Race.

Many drivers will be running in two categories, with co-drivers regularly featuring in both the V8 Supercar Dunlop Series and the Porsche Carrera Cup, as well as serving as co-drivers in the main race.

And with Bathurst being the penultimate round for the Dunlop Series, it’s an important points earner.

Dale Wood leads the Dunlop Series Championship and will be competing alongside Chaz Mostert in his Dick Johnson Racing Ford Falcon, which will wear #17 for the four days and a cool retro livery, in the 1000km race.

Wood is a seasoned competitor, having spent several years in the development tier and raced for a short time in the main series.

So he knows all about ‘double stinting’ at Bathurst. And while he admits it makes for a big weekend, he was far from complaining.

“I reckon I’m one of the luckiest blokes getting to do double duties there – it’s pretty cool,” Wood told v8supercars.com.au.

“No one denies how good a place it is, the track, and to be able to be doing virtually double the miles in both cars is pretty lucky.

“So I love it, I know it takes it out of ya, running backwards and forwards and keeping up with the two different cars, but it’s certainly a really good experience … to do a good job in both, you’ve got to be on your game.”

While in some cases the Dunlop Series has been used for seat time, to prepare drivers for the PIRTEK Enduro Cup – for example, Luke Youlden jumping in the Think Holden at Winton – for Wood, he knows he needs to earn points.

Wood says the only pressure he feels is what he places on himself. But, how difficult is it when something goes badly in one category, right before having to jump into a different car for the other?

“I hope I don’t have to answer that, because I haven’t experienced that!

“I’ve had quite a good record and a good run at Bathurst but I think it’s just a matter of, you have to get on with the job.

“We’ve done it long enough now that I’ve had bad results and there’s no point dwelling on them and sitting in a corner crying. You’ve just got to get up and make the most of the next run whatever it might be, whether it’s practice, qualifying or racing.”

Wood’s value as a co-driver rung true in the Wilson Security Sandown 500 co-driver qualifying race, when he catapulted from the first row to lead the first lap and eventually finished third.

He attributed that to his practice starting in the Dunlop Series and believes his rounded experience gives the team options with strategy.

“It makes a big difference – to go back and start on the front row at Sandown, if I hadn’t done development series and perhaps had the year I’ve had so far, maybe it would have been a different situation. Maybe my nerves would have been a bit more and I wouldn’t have been as comfortable with it.

“Certainly (Dunlop Series) is a very valuable tool – it’s obviously great that I’m leading the Championship, but when it comes to doing the main series it’s very valuable … I’ll have almost simulated every situation you might come across (when the 1000 starts).”

Wood was happy with the performance at Sandown. The weekend gave him a good opportunity to gel with DJR and he was thrilled about the results on Saturday.

“Chaz did an unbelievable job, he effectively put me on the front row – starting on the front row of a main game race with a Red Bull car and the like around you was pretty cool!

“And then I suppose I was lucky enough to lead the first couple of laps.

“I was pretty realistic – I didn’t think that was going to remain the case because there were a few things that weren’t quite right, but then once we settled in, we were in third behind Steve Owen (in the #6 Pepsi Max Falcon).

“It was definitely a highlight for me, something I think about and enjoyed, it was a good result for me.”

Despite their front-running car dropping back down the order after a penalty was handed down to Mostert for speeding in pit lane, Wood had nothing but praise for his less experienced 21-year old driving partner.

“It was just a general mistake of speeding in pit lane which caught him out, but absolutely no hard feelings there – I have an unbelievably good relationship and friendship with Chaz and we both know what we’re trying to achieve.”

Wood’s backstory is an interesting one. He won the Mike Kable Young Gun Award, recognising the best rookie driver of the year, in 2007 when competing in the development series.

In 2009 he made it to main game V8 Supercars with then Kelly Racing, but parted ways mid-season. It was a tough time for Wood outside of racing and he learned the sport wasn’t the glitzy, glamorous show it may seem.

Now, the 30-year old is back battling for a seat in the main game and believes he is ready to tackle the big names of the sport.

However, that is not his motivation for wanting strong results at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000.

“I would certainly like to go into the main series next year – I believe I’ve shown enough, done enough, and believe in myself that I’m ready,” Wood said.

“But I certainly am not going out there to get a result purely to propel myself into the main series.

“I’m going out there to get a result, because that’s what I’m passionate about.

“I love the sport, I love the industry… a podium would just be brilliant all-round, not for any reason apart from you’re at Bathurst and on the podium.”

The Dunlop Series is just one of the other categories running over the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000. Tickets are still available to the event.