Fresh off a wild rollercoaster of a weekend in Perth, rising Kiwi Supercars driver Ryan Wood is set to make a surprise appearance at Round 2 of the 2025 North Island Endurance Series (NIERDC).
Wood will share the wheel of the Audi R8 LMS Evo II GT3 with fellow Kiwi and GT talent Steve Brooks as the pair gear up for this Saturday’s three-hour endurance thriller at Hampton Downs.
The duo are no strangers to success together; just last month, they shared a podium at Sydney Motorsport Park, finishing second in Race 2 at Round 2 of the GT World Challenge Australia. Now, they’ll look to build on that momentum as they reunite on home soil.
For Brooks, it’s a continuation of a strong NIERDC campaign. He teamed up with Bill Riding to score a strong third-place finish in Round 1 at Taupō and will now join forces with his regular GT World Challenge Australia co-driver in what is shaping up to be a crucial test ahead of their championship finale at Hampton Downs later this year (Oct 31 – Nov 2).
With both drivers chasing international glory, Hampton Downs serves as the ideal battleground to fine-tune their partnership and build momentum under real race conditions.
For Wood, it’s a quick reset after a dramatic weekend in the Supercars Championship in Perth, where he experienced the full spectrum of motorsport emotions.
The 21-year-old Wellingtonian stunned the paddock with his maiden Supercars pole position and a breakthrough race win in Race 1. But the highs were short-lived; a mechanical issue cruelly robbed him of victory while leading in Race 2 before he was taken out by James Golding in Race 3 while hunting another podium.
Now, Wood returns to home soil and endurance mode, eager to channel that momentum (and maybe some frustration) into a focused performance alongside Brooks.
The pairing will face stiff competition, with Jonny Reid and Sam Fillmore returning in their proven combo, as well as Andrew Waite and Glen Brazier, who are always a threat in the GT3 ranks.
With top-tier machinery, high-stakes preparation for an international grand finale, and some of New Zealand’s best endurance racers on the grid, Round 2 at Hampton Downs promises top-quality racing.
The green flag drops this Saturday at Hampton Downs — don’t miss it.
