The weekend began with adversity, as the Mobil 1 Optus Racing No. 25 found the fence in Practice 1, returning to the garage on the back of a tow truck.
In true Walkinshaw Andretti United fashion, the crew pulled together to repair the car and get it back out for Practice 2 — an early display of teamwork that would define the weekend.
Both cars showed improving pace as the event progressed, with overnight adjustments helping them find form ahead of Friday qualifying. Ryan Wood impressed with a composed and confident performance, earning his place in the Top 10 Shootout and securing P3 on the grid for Sunday’s Great Race. On race day, Wood delivered a mature and controlled drive in ever-changing conditions.
After a strong start, the team’s strategy and execution put the Mobil 1 Truck Assist Racing No. 2 Ford Mustang in prime position to challenge for victory. Despite the onset of rain and multiple safety cars through the middle of the race, the team’s bold decision to switch to wet tyres paid off, with Wood taking control of the car and extending a commanding lead. However, with just 25 laps remaining, the dream of Bathurst glory slipped away when water infiltrated an engine sensor, forcing Wood to limp the car back to pit lane.
In a show of determination and teamwork, the crew worked tirelessly to get him back on track and ensure a crucial finish to secure a finals berth.
“Bathurst aye, I can’t thank Juice and the whole team enough. Juice put us in a position to try and challenge for the race win and ultimately we fell short with an ECU problem. Really guttered — everyone worked their backsides off all week long and to have this happen to us feels a little bit unfair, but that’s motorsport. We are in the finals, we will bounce back and we will be giving it our all on the streets of Gold Coast.”
While the result wasn’t the one the team had worked so hard for, Ryan Wood’s performance under pressure in qualifying, the shootout, and the race itself, further cemented his status as one of Supercars’ brightest young talents. Mobil 1 Truck Assist Racing now turns its attention to the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500, determined to bounce back stronger than ever.
