RIVALS will be seeing double when it comes to the Wood family in this year’s Porsche Paynter Dixon Carrera Cup Australia Championship.
Dale Wood – who finished third in the 2023 championship – has confirmed his return in 2024 and has also locked in a second car to be driven by his brother, vastly experienced GT racer Glen.
Glen will sport the familiar colours of Ranbuild in 2024, continuing the family’s relationship with the Aussie-owned shed manufacturer that commenced last year.
Ranbuild sheds are custom made to your specific requirements, something they have been doing for over 70 years. Local Ranbuild dealers will manage customers projects giving them peace of mind from beginning to end because ‘it’s not just a shed, it’s a Ranbuild!’.
Meanwhile, Dale will sport the colours of new primary sponsor, Connected Spaces, a business providing tailored joinery solutions for a range of building projects across Australia and New Zealand.
From bespoke cabinetry for small developments, right through to full-scale multilevel high rises, Connected Spaces’ multi-national manufacturing, warehousing and logistics services allow them to deliver high quality and exceptional value to meet the needs of every project.
The Wood brothers’ cars will again be run by Earl Bamber Motorsport, who last year claimed both the outright and Pro-Am class titles in Carrera Cup, and the Michelin Sprint Challenge series title as well.
The pair of cars feature the same base livery design while still representing the individual branding of the major partners, with the cars formally unveiled during a pre-season test day at The Bend recently.
While 2024 marks Glen Wood’s first full-season campaign in Carrera Cup he has raced in the championship previously, contesting five rounds of the 2018 season with the Porsche Centre Brighton squad and recording a best finish of fifth position, achieved at Mount Panorama.
Dale Wood finished third in the 2023 championship with victory in the final round of the year in Adelaide.
The only multiple round winner last season, Wood has five round and 18 race wins to his credit in his 41-round Carrera Cup Career.
The pair will be on the grid for the opening round of the 2024 championship at the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 21-24.
DALE WOOD – #992 CONNECTED SPACES PORSCHE 992 GT3 Cup Car
“The discussions and the idea to run two cars with my brother began to take shape mid-way through last season.
“I am proud to have brought Ranbuild into the sport and into the spotlight, we have a great relationship with them and they were very excited about what we achieved last year.
“I have been speaking to the team behind Connected Spaces for a couple of years and they said that now was the right time to get involved.
“It was actually a difficult conversation to have with Ranbuild and say, ‘here’s what I want to do, I’m going to put a Wood in your car but it won’t be me – however it will be a guy who will do equally as good a job, both on and off track.’
“I spent a few nights worrying about it but when they rang back it was done and dusted in a couple of minutes. It’s going to be an incredible thing to continue to work with them, but then also work with a new company to the sport and show them how valuable Motorsport can be.
“It’s quite surreal seeing both cars together and being on track together, racing one another other. It will be all friendly between us, but we will race hard – it’s something I’m particularly excited about for this season.”
GLEN WOOD – #911 RANBUILD PORSCHE 992 GT3 Cup Car
“It’s quite surreal to understand and believe that we’re both here doing this. To join my brother as a teammate and to work out of the same garage makes my hair stand up, it’s unreal.
“It’s great to be representing Ranbuild and I’m grateful that they’ve seen the vision we had for this year and have backed it. They will continue to work with Dale and I throughout the year.
“The cars look fantastic. Though obviously, I tell my brother that mine is the best-looking car of the two!
“I’m being realistic about my own expectations and what we can achieve this year. It’s a tough, very competitive championship but I’d like to think that I’ll be fighting for podiums by the back half of the year, if not sooner.
“I’ve raced a lot of GT cars lately and I’m very thankful for those experiences, but having a car to yourself is the holy grail. You can just pin down your technique and work on that over a race weekend and throughout the year.
“It’s an incredible opportunity to put 110% focus on my car, our team, our sponsors and for what is to come in the year ahead.”