Supercars Driver Ryan Wood Unveils Māori Heritage Livery for Townsville 500

Mangōpare: Ryan Wood to Race with Māori Heritage Livery at NTI Townsville 500

The NTI Townsville 500, now in its fifth season, features a themed round that largely showcases indigenous Australian culture. This year, Walkinshaw TWG Racing driver Ryan Wood will race with a special livery celebrating his Māori heritage.

Wood, born and raised in Upper Hutt, New Zealand, traces his Māori heritage through his mother's family. The livery, titled Mangōpare (Māori for Hammerhead Shark), was designed by contemporary Māori artist Petera Te Hiwirori Hatea.

The design draws inspiration from the whakataukī (proverb):

“Kei mate wheke, kia mate ururoa” (Do not die like an octopus, die fighting like a hammerhead shark).

It incorporates the Pītau-a-Manaia pattern, which symbolizes support from Wood's family, friends, team, and partners.

Wood said: “This livery means a lot to me. I’ve always been proud of my Māori heritage ... to be able to celebrate a culture that means a lot to me in this way is really special. I can’t thank Hiwirori enough for the work he’s put into this design.”

According to Walkinshaw TWG, the Mangōpare symbol represents strength, resilience, guidance, and protection—qualities associated with Wood on and off the racetrack.

Last year, Supercars permitted driver Jaxon Evans to highlight his Fijian background through a livery.