A solid end to the weekend here in New Zealand with both Chaz Mostert and Ryan Wood finishing in the Top 10.
The morning started off with qualifying where Chaz and Ryan secured back-to-back spots into the Top 10 Shootout with P2 and P5.
Unfortunately, both cars couldn’t turn the tyre on in the shootout, struggling for head, resulting in Chaz lining up P9 and Ryan P10.
Ryan got off the line cleanly for the start of Race 8 whilst Chaz got caught in an opening lap battle, which pushed him off the racing line and down to 17th.
We tried alternative strategies on both cars with Chaz taking two stops and Ryan three stops, but it just didn’t quite have enough today.
After the third pitstop Ryan came out P20 but absolutely blazed through the field, with an impressive overtake on the final lap final corner for P12 but due to two post race penalties he secured a top 10 finish.
It was a tough final stint for Chaz as he struggled with pace towards the end of the stint bringing the car home to P7.
Overall, a solid weekend for the team with both cars in the shootout on both days, and a really strong weekend at home for Ryan which will fill him with confidence.
We head home across the ditch now, before the big trip across the Nullarbor to Perth, on May 18-20.
Ryan Wood
“It’s been an awesome weekend for the Mobil 1 Truck Assist Racing Car 2, two top 10 shootouts and two top 10 results, to do that in front of a home crowd is pretty special.
“Really tough racing today, it was a long slog, we went for a different strategy today doing three stints which I think worked in our favour so a massive credit to the crew.
“Really looking forward to heading to Perth for the next round, would be nice to have the same sort of weekend we had in the Super2 car last year.”
Chaz Mostert
“It was a fantastic weekend here in New Zealand, maybe not on the results point of view but from the fan turnout with sold out tickets on Saturday and Sunday, as the locals say, that is pretty choice.
“This track is awesome, it was my first time coming here and I’m looking forward to coming back. Next year we definitely need to have a double header here in New Zealand.
“Next stop is Perth, really looking forward to swapping the gumboots back to my thongs and getting out west.”