In a thrilling display of speed and strategy, Ryan Wood claimed the prestigious Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. But here’s where it gets even more fascinating: Wood’s victory wasn’t just about crossing the finish line—it was a full-circle moment for the Supercars star, who once won the Denny Hulme certificate as a child. Talk about destiny! From the moment the lights went out, Wood dominated the race, seizing the lead from the outside of the front row and never looking back. His performance was nothing short of flawless, leading all 23 laps with a confidence that left competitors in awe. And this is the part most people miss: the only real threat to his lead came mid-race when a safety car was deployed after Ernesto Rivero and Zack Scoular collided at the hairpin. Yet, Wood’s expertly timed restart ensured he maintained his position, ultimately finishing ahead of Kanato Le and Louis Sharp.
“This means the world to me,” Wood shared emotionally. “I still have that Denny Hulme certificate from my childhood, and to win this trophy today feels surreal. I’m incredibly grateful to the entire MTEC team for their hard work.” He also praised Sharp, his teammate, saying, “Louis is driving his heart out, and it’s awesome to share the podium with him.”
But here’s where it gets controversial: while Wood’s win was undeniable, Sharp’s podium finish wasn’t without drama. His aggressive first-lap move on Jack Taylor—the surprise pole winner—set the tone for a race where overtaking proved challenging. Taylor, who stunned everyone by securing pole in wet morning conditions, held onto fourth for most of the race before facing pressure from series leader Ugo Ugochukwu. Ugochukwu’s recovery drive from 11th on the grid was impressive, but his battle with Taylor was fierce, momentarily dropping him to sixth before he fought back to secure fourth on the penultimate lap. Jin Nakamura also capitalized on Taylor’s struggles, snatching fifth place.
Meanwhile, Yevan David finished seventh, followed by Yuanpu Cui, Ernesto Rivera, and Nolan Allaer. For Scoular, the day ended in disappointment with a DNF, a stark contrast to his dominant Race 3 victory earlier, where he finished over eight seconds ahead of Freddie Slater and Wood. Ugochukwu’s 13th-place finish in Race 3 made his feature race recovery even more critical, though he still leads the series with 192 points, ahead of Sharp and Le (both 159), Nakamura (151), and Wood (150).
As the penultimate round of the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy (CTFROT) heads to Teretonga Raceway next weekend, the question remains: Can Ugochukwu maintain his lead, or will Wood’s momentum shift the balance? What do you think—is Wood’s win a sign of things to come, or will the series leader bounce back stronger? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
