22-Year-Old Supercars Driver Wins Trophy Named After F1 Legend
Ryan Wood never imagined he'd win a trophy named after New Zealand's only Formula 1 world champion. The 22-year-old Wellington racer just proved that dreams you don't even dare to have can still come true.
Sometimes the victories that mean the most are the ones we never expected to chase.
Ryan Wood spent most of his racing career banging doors in Supercars, Australia's high-octane touring car series. During his off-season, the 22-year-old Wellingtonian decided to try something completely different: single-seater racing in New Zealand's premier formula series.
He didn't expect much. The Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy attracts some of the world's hottest young talents hunting for Super License points during Europe's winter break. Last year's winner, Arvid Lindblad, just landed a Formula 1 seat alongside Kiwi star Liam Lawson.
But on Sunday at Taupo International Motorsports Park, Wood crossed the finish line first. He won the Denny Hulme Memorial Trophy, named after New Zealand's only Formula 1 world champion from 1967.
"It honestly means the world," Wood said. "Being a Kiwi, I never thought I could win this trophy."
The race tested every ounce of his skill. Wood built a comfortable 1.5-second lead before a safety car bunched the field back together on lap 13. He held his nerve on the restart, managed his tires perfectly, and brought it home ahead of Japanese driver Kanato Le and teammate Louis Sharp.
Why This Inspires
Wood's connection to the Hulme name runs deeper than Sunday's win. As a young kart racer, he won the Denny Hulme certificate at the national championships. Just weeks ago, he and his family dug that old award out of storage during his time back home.
That little kid who won a certificate never dreamed he'd one day win the actual trophy. The weekend marked Wood's first-ever race victory in the series too, coming just 24 hours before his Hulme Trophy win.
His championship hopes looked finished after an innocent-bystander crash at the opening round. Now he's climbed into the top five at the series halfway point, with two rounds remaining including the 70th New Zealand Grand Prix.
Sometimes taking a chance on something new opens doors you didn't know existed.
More Images
Based on reporting by Stuff NZ
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
Spread the positivity! 🌟
Share this good news with someone who needs it
