![\"Wood](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Ryan-Wood-Taupo-win.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRyan Wood at Taupo. Image: InSyde Media <\/p>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRyan Wood at Taupo. Image: InSyde Media <\/p>\n
The 22-year-old scored a first Supercars win for Toyota in just its ninth race after controlling much of the 200km contest from pole position.<\/p>\n
On the whole it was a mature drive, with Wood having resisted an attack from a speedy Will Brown to maintain control in the opening stint.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve never done a race like that before, so I don\u2019t know where it came from,\u201d said Wood after his second career win following a maiden triumph in Perth last season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really proud of our team and really proud of myself the way I drove that race and was able to manage it.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Ryan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Wood-Mostert-Taupo.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Ryan Wood leads Chaz Mostert late in the race. Image: InSyde Media<\/p>\n
Wood\u2019s management of the race almost came unravelled, though, when he emerged from his final pit stop behind teammate Chaz Mostert.<\/p>\n
Engineer Richard Harris had left Wood out two laps longer than Mostert aiming to gain a tyre offset, not expecting such a powerful undercut.<\/p>\n
Win a limited edition 1:18 scale model #8 BJR Camaro. Enter Now. <\/a><\/p>\n Wood let fly on team radio, yelling \u201care you f***ing serious?\u201d as he feared the win had slipped away.<\/p>\n \u201cI was pretty dirty. I was blowing up,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n \u201cBut that wasn\u2019t anything other than just being surprised that a car had jumped us.<\/p>\n \u201cWe had sort of covered everyone all day long. When you get to the final stint and you\u2019ve led the whole race, it\u2019s like a nightmare unfolding.\u201d<\/p>\n Wood takes Toyota\u2019s first Supercars win in dramatic fashion<\/a><\/p>\n That drama occured with just under 20 laps remaining and required Wood to regain his composure.<\/p>\n That\u2019s where the thought of Greg Murphy \u2013 an emotional driver turned vital Wood mentor \u2013 kicked in.<\/p>\n \u201cI was making mistakes because I was angry, and then I just calmed back down,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew if I kept carrying on, Murph would give me a pull-through. So I just wanted to calm down.\u201d<\/p>\n Once Wood steadied himself he was able to reel in Mostert, who elected to yield the lead to ensure at least one of the Toyotas could fend off Broc Feeney.<\/p>\n That avoided a potentially awkward battle between the teammates and allowed Wood to soak up the final kilometres in front of a roaring crowd.<\/p>\n Mostert explains selfless act to ensure Toyota triumph<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThose last two laps were very, very emotional, seeing every Kiwi stand up,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe support I\u2019ve had this weekend is something I\u2019ll remember for a very long time. It\u2019s been over what I\u2019d ever thought I\u2019d have.\u201d<\/p>\n Wood apologised post-race for his radio outburst, clearly embarrassed by what ultimately proved an over-reaction.<\/p>\n But he also believes that leaning into his emotions throughout the day was part of his ultimate success.<\/p>\n \u201cEven that Haka to start the race got me a little bit emotional,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I try to hide that a little bit sometimes and, for once, I let it just go.<\/p>\n \u201cI felt like today was a really, really big step forward for my mental side of racing and how I should go racing.<\/p>\n \u201cI look forward to seeing how I can use that in races to come.\u201d<\/p>\n Wood was not alone in riding the emotional rollercoaster throughout the day.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure there was a lot of tears flowing from my parents,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are pretty emotional like me. That\u2019s where I get it from.\u201d<\/p>\n Victory added Wood\u2019s name to a growing list of Kiwi Supercars drives to win on home soil, which began with Murphy\u2019s heroics at Pukekohe 25 years ago.<\/p>\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Speedcafe-Comp-1_2026_Speedcafe-Graphics_Leaderboard_WIP1.jpg\")
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