Wood relaxes ahead of Clipsal

Dale Wood will begin his rookie year in the V8 Supercar Championship Series at one of the most daunting events of the season at the Clipsal 500 on the streets of Adelaide this weekend.
But the 25-year-old says that he has his nerves under control ahead of his first race aboard the #16 Commodore of new V8 Supercar outfit Kelly Racing.

“Surprising I’m really calm and relaxed about it,” said Wood.

“I’m looking forward to getting to be a part of the championship as a full-time driver in the premier motorsport category in Australia.

“On top of that I’m absolutely over the moon to be with Kelly Racing.”

Wood will pilot the fourth entry of Kelly Racing, joining former Bathurst winners Todd and Rick Kelly and second-generation racer Jack Perkins.

While Wood is the least experienced of Kelly Racing’s four drivers, he will look to learn from his more established team-mates in what will be his Clipsal 500 debut this weekend.

Originally from the Yarra Valley, Wood faired well at the Adelaide street circuit last year in the development level Fujitsu V8 Supercar Series.

Wood collected fourth and third in the two Fujitsu Series races at the 2009 Clipsal 500 carnival, en route to sixth in the series standings last season.

But it will be learning the ropes in the toughest touring car championship in the world, rather than championship points, that will be Wood’s focus in the early stages of this season.

“My goals are low and at the moment I just want to enjoy it, come out of the Adelaide weekend unscathed and keep building experience,” said Wood.

“Getting to be a part of what is arguably Australia’s biggest V8 Supercar team in Kelly Racing and being behind the wheel of the #16 Commodore is fantastic.

“Working as part of this team day-in, day-out makes it even better because all the guys on my car and the whole team in general are absolutely fantastic.”

Major sponsorship and livery for the #16 Kelly Racing Holden Commodore will be unveiled at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide this weekend.