Chaz Mostert’s Intensity Shines Through for Rookie Teammate Ryan Wood
Rookie driver Ryan Wood has been gaining invaluable insight into the intense racing mindset of his teammate, Chaz Mostert. The young New Zealander, five rounds into his debut Supercars campaign, has found Mostert’s serious side an “eye-opener” as he navigates the high-stakes world of the Supercars Championship.
Mostert, a two-time Bathurst 1000 winner and reigning Barry Sheene Medalist, is known for his charismatic personality in the paddock. However, Wood, who is 11 years his junior, is discovering the hard racer side of Mostert that has propelled him to third place in the current championship standings, trailing only Triple Eight teammates Will Brown and Broc Feeney.
“He’s pretty blunt, to be honest,” Wood shared on the first episode of Supercars’ new Drivers Only podcast. “He’s a larrikin, one of the dudes, but I probably underestimated how serious he is when it comes to racing.”
Wood recounted Mostert’s reaction to an unsafe release penalty in Perth, which cost him back-to-back wins. “Even though Perth was a great weekend for us, because he made a mistake in that Sunday race, I couldn’t believe how hard he took it,” Wood said. “It’s an eye-opener for me as a rookie because it gives me perspective on how much it means to not only us as drivers but our team and everything like that.”
As the Supercars season prepares to resume at the NTI Townsville 500, Wood is eager to continue learning from Mostert’s dedication and drive. The rookie’s journey alongside one of the sport’s most determined competitors is shaping his approach and fueling his own aspirations for success.
For Walkinshaw Andretti United, the partnership between Mostert and Wood promises a blend of experience and fresh talent, pushing the team forward in the relentless pursuit of victory.
