Home crowd, Payne win steers Wood's maiden podium

Ryan Wood has labelled his maiden Supercars podium a “monkey off the back” result, with the Walkinshaw Andretti United driver delivering a double Kiwi podium.

Wood came home third behind friend and winner Matt Payne in Saturday's ITM Taupō Super 440 opener, with Cam Waters retaking the points lead with second.

It was a first Supercars podium in 31 attempts for Wood, who debuted last season.

Wood appeared set for a big weekend after topping Friday practice, and admitted he needed to be more patient in qualifying. He delivered, qualifying towards the front for Race 8.

However, fourth looked like that was as good as it would get, before Wood charged past Team 18 driver Anton De Pasquale for third with two laps to go.

“I always drive hard, and today I felt like I drove a really great race. I felt like I was aggressive when I needed to be aggressive — and the car was so fast,” the Wellington-born driver said.

“Kudos to everyone here at WAU for sticking by me, it just feels amazing to get a podium. A little bit of a monkey off the back.”

Knowing Payne was set for victory, Wood wanted to make it two Kiwis on the rostrum, adding: “I felt the home crowd.

“It was kudos to Rich [engineer Richard Harris] for coaching me through that race.

“We’re learning on the fly and he was telling me to look after it and I was going faster and faster and I was like, ‘I think I’m looking after it’.”

On mate Payne, Wood added: “Everyone knows that we’re good mates… to see him win and control that race the way he did, for me, I had to work pretty hard and come through.

“It just felt like old go-karting times except we had a Monster car [Waters] that we’ve both watched on TV since we were seven between us."

Race 9, which will be held on the Super Soft tyre, will commence at 4:05pm NZST/2:05pm AEST.