Ryan Wood has claimed the first two race wins in the opening round of the 2022 Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge Series.
Tom Sargent took an early lead at the start of race two, while Wood who had been on pole briefly dropped back to third, with Courtney Prince taking second before the Kiwi got back by to take the position.
Wood then set his focus on Sargent in a battle for the race lead. The Kiwi made a move for the race lead on the final lap, getting an overlap on the exit of the final turn, with lap traffic coming into play as the pair went either side of the car.
Sargent was forced to take to the grass around the lap car, while Wood took the inside line, putting him in the race lead, crossing the line 1.2 seconds ahead of Sargent to take the win.
“I had to really work for that one, that start was terrible again, I need to tune that up,” Ryan Wood said.
“I’m just really, really appreciative. Tom made a few little mistakes and that last lap was so hectic I’ve never been in something like that before and he got really unlucky with the lapped car.
“It is a shame for him, but that’s what we expected today with such a widespread of times throughout the grid. Really stoked to take another win and it was a really good battle.”
Race one doubled as the Jim Richards Endurance Trophy, the race held over 24-laps.
Wood started from pole position, but Sargent got the better start to lead the field through turn one.
The leading pair of Sargent and Wood built an eight-second margin over the rest of the field before the safety car was brought out after Bloxsom went wide, getting stuck in the turn three sand trap.
Wood made the most of the safety car restart going around the outside of Sargent through turn four before clearing Sargent off turn five.
Maddie Stewart was running in sixth before she was turned around at turn four, dropping back to 17th by the end of the race, though she would make it back to 10th by the end of race 2.
After taking the race lead Wood built a margin over Sargent crossing the line five seconds ahead. Sargent held off Prince in the battle for second while Shields and Miller completed the top five.
