Wood’s Podium & Walkinshaw’s Response to Supercars Chassis Claims – 2026 Australian Grand Prix

MELBOURNE, Australia – Ryan Wood delivered a landmark result for Toyota at the Melbourne SuperSprint on Friday, securing the Japanese manufacturer’s first podium finish in the Supercars Championship. Driving his Walkinshaw TWG Racing Supra, Wood finished third in Race 2, trailing only Brodie Kostecki and Matthew Payne.

The result, achieved after just five races for Toyota in the series, was particularly significant given the recent controversy surrounding the legality of the Walkinshaw Supra chassis. Triple Eight team boss Jamie Whincup publicly questioned the construction of the chassis, alleging the use of TIG welding covered by MIG welding in areas prohibited by regulations. Walkinshaw TWG and Supercars officials have both refuted these claims, but the issue has remained a talking point within the paddock.

Wood’s podium finish appeared to be a pointed response to the ongoing debate. “It’s a very special day for our team [and] for myself,” Wood told Fox Sports. “With all of the stuff that’s been going on in the background, it’s really cool to shut up a few people.”

The race wasn’t without its drama. Wood benefited from an incident on the fourth lap involving teammate Chaz Mostert and Broc Feeney, which created space ahead. Further chaos between Aaron Cameron and Feeney on the same lap extended Wood’s advantage. Despite acknowledging a degree of luck, Wood emphasized the hard work of his team in transforming the Supra into a competitive machine.

“I’m really, really stoked,” Wood said. “It’s not just the hard work they’ve put in in the off-season, which wasn’t really an off-season for them, but it’s the effort that’s gone into it between Sydney and now. It’s really cool times for our team. We know we’ve got a lot of hard work, I know that race we probably got a bit lucky with the pressure behind, but as a driver you grab those ones.”

The transition to the Toyota Supra has presented unique challenges for the Walkinshaw team. Wood explained the difficulties in adapting setups from previous seasons. “Our car is so different to the Mustang and it’s correlating as well as we probably would have liked,” he said. “You can’t open the book and travel, ‘these are set-ups from last year, let’s plug them in.’ We’re starting from scratch again and that’s been the hardest part.”

The podium finish comes as Walkinshaw TWG Racing is reportedly on the verge of announcing a new co-owner, with Zak Brown, the owner of McLaren Racing, heavily linked to the position. This potential investment could provide further stability and resources for the team as it continues to develop the Toyota Supra program.

The Melbourne SuperSprint continues on Saturday with further practice and qualifying sessions, followed by two more races. Kostecki’s victory in Friday’s race, beating out Payne by just over half a second, demonstrated the competitive intensity of the series. The battle for the championship is shaping up to be a closely contested affair, with several drivers showing strong pace early in the season.

Wood’s performance marks a significant milestone for Toyota’s Supercars program. Bringing Toyota its first podium in only its fifth race is a testament to the dedication of the Walkinshaw TWG Racing team and the potential of the Supra platform. The result also serves as a clear statement to those who have questioned the legitimacy of their operation, both on and off the track.

The tension between Walkinshaw and Triple Eight, stemming from the chassis allegations, adds another layer of intrigue to the season. Ryan Walkinshaw, TWG boss, previously addressed the controversy on the Lucky Dogs podcast, dismissing claims of malicious intent and asserting that the plan was to aid Chaz Mostert’s championship bid in 2025. The rivalry between the teams is clearly simmering, and the on-track battles are likely to be even more intense as the season progresses.

The Melbourne SuperSprint is proving to be a thrilling start to the 2026 Supercars Championship, with unpredictable racing and emerging storylines. The performance of the Toyota Supra and the ongoing rivalry between Walkinshaw and Triple Eight are just two of the factors that are captivating fans and shaping the narrative of the season.