Porsche New Zealand has announced that Ryan Wood and Zac Stichbury will compete as Team Porsche New Zealand scholarship drivers in 2023.
Wood has graduated from competing in the 2022 Porsche Michelin Sprint Cup Challenge through the scholarship program, to the Team Porsche NZ main car for the 2023 Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia series.
In his first year with Team Porsche NZ, Wood is currently ranked second in the 2022 Michelin Sprint Challenge.
“I’m very excited and privileged to continue my journey with TPNZ and EBM next year in the Carrera cup,” commented Wood. “Following this year’s results, I’m looking forward to achieving the same results next year with the ambition to be a title contender again.
“This year has been a huge success with being a title contender and having race wins and pole positions every round. It’s been awesome to work with everyone at TPNZ and learn lots on and off track with their guidance being a huge help.
“A big thank you to everyone at TPNZ for selecting me and giving me a chance to represent this awesome brand and group of people again!”
In addition, it has been announced that Stichbury is the second scholarship recipient, due to compete for Team Porsche New Zealand in 2023 in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Cup Challenge.
Following in the motor racing footsteps of his late father Ashley Stichbury, young Stichbury won the 2018 NZ Schools Championships and the New Zealand Rotax Max Challenge, before representing New Zealand in the World Grand Finals in Brazil. He has since progressed through Formula Ford and the Toyota 86 Championship.
With the recent completion of his degree in Industrial Design at Auckland University of Technology, Stichbury is moving across the ditch to live in the Gold Coast and start preparing for his debut season with Team Porsche New Zealand in 2023.
“Words struggle to describe how much this means to me, to be selected as a Porsche New Zealand driver and race for Earl Bamber Motorsport next year in the Porsche Michelin Sprint Challenge,” said Stichbury.
“To finally get the opportunity to continue from where my late father finished up and to race under the New Zealand based team over in Australia. I am aiming to win the championship as well as improve and grow each race weekend as a driver and with the team.
“Can’t wait to see what unfolds and to learn and take this opportunity with both hands.”
The final five finalists for the TPNZ shootout were Kaleb Ngatoa (21), Matthew Mccutcheon (19), Ronan Murphy (21), Ryan Wood (18), and Zac Stichbury (21).
At the shootout, the finalists were tested on and off the track at multiple stations including character interviews with Earl Bamber and the Porsche New Zealand team, track testing in the 991.2 GT3 Cup car with analysis with Ben Jenkins from Earl Bamber Motorsport, fitness testing (reaction, cardio, and strength-based tests) with Alastair Wooiton from Formula Fit, mental potential assessment and media interviews with TVNZ Sunday reporter Kristin Hall.
