Ryan Wood, the New Zealand Supercars driver, has been officially appointed as a 'guardian' or brand ambassador for Gazoo Racing (GR) under Toyota New Zealand. The role is designed to bring the GR brand to life beyond the racetrack and foster a stronger connection between performance, community, and driving culture across the country.
Wood, now 22, is a product of Toyota's ladder system, having started his career in New Zealand's Toyota 86 series. He then moved to the Porsche Sprint Challenge in Australia before being recruited by Walkinshaw TWG Racing, progressing through Super2 and into Supercars.
His Toyota ties were rekindled by competing in Formula Regional Oceania at the start of the year, before becoming part of the Walkinshaw squad's new Supra era. "Getting the call about this took me right back to where I started," said Wood. "I came through the Toyota 86 championship with a lot to prove, and there have been plenty of setbacks along the way. It's never been about being perfect, it's about not settling and always looking to improve."
Wood emphasized that this role goes beyond a lineup of high-performance vehicles. "This is about a love of performance and being a real car enthusiast," he explained. "As a brand guardian, I'll be focused on how we bring our growing community together through a shared love of driving, through motorsport, owner experiences, track events, genuine performance parts, and even merchandise."
Toyota New Zealand's Chief Strategic Officer, Andrew Davis, praised Wood's credentials. "Ryan represents everything Gazoo Racing stands for: progression, resilience, and a genuine love of driving," said Davis. "His journey from the Toyota 86 championship to winning races in the Supercars Championship in a GR Supra, and also winning races in the Castrol Toyota Formula Regional Oceania Trophy in 2026, is a powerful reminder of what our driver development pathway can produce. This gives us an authentic voice to bring the Gazoo Racing brand to life for New Zealanders who might only know it from the racetrack."
Davis added that this isn't about motorsport results, but about showing what Gazoo Racing means for everyday driving. "It's about Ryan's story and the example he sets for young drivers coming through. He's exactly the kind of person we want representing our pathway and connecting with communities across the country."
Wood kicked off his brand guardian duties at a launch event at Hampton Downs this week, having just completed his first laps in the GRF-70, which he described as "like a baby F1 car". This appointment underscores Toyota NZ's commitment to nurturing local talent while expanding its brand influence beyond the track.
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