It didn’t take Ryan Wood long to get up to speed in Super2 with the Kiwi taking pole position for his second ever race start in Newcastle.
A 1:13.2559 was enough to pip series veteran Zak Best by .0025 seconds in a tight front pack which saw the top four drivers separated by just .06 of a second. This leaves Matt Chada and Aaron Love to fill out the second row despite falling just short of top spot.
Wood ran just four laps in the session and set his time early which worked in his favour after impact with the wall on his fifth lap.
Heading into a right hander towards to end of a lap Wood got on the gas to early, clipping the concrete with the front with the rear following. He was able to drive away and return to the lane with some damage evident.
That didn’t matter for the Kiwi whose early pace was enough to see him hold top spot.
It was a contrast in fortunes for Matthew McCutcheon in Super3 qualifying who was forced to pull off on his first lap. He was unable to set a time meaning he’ll start from the back row of the combined Super2/Super3 field.
Super3 qualifying was brought to a halt early with Jett Johnson burying his Nissan Altima in the tyres. Mason Kelly followed him a few moments later, blind-sided with nowhere to go. Kelly’s impact was much less severe and both cars were able to reverse out and return to the lane.
There will be damage for both cars, however, Kelly also hitting the wall at the same place a lap earlier. Losing control through the complex saw the son of Todd Kelly able to miraculously regain control only for the left rear to make contact with the concrete.
Expect both Kiwis to be fast once Race 2 gets underway at 3.50pm today with Wood off the front and McCutcheon with a point to prove from the back.
Header Image: Walkinshaw Andretti United
