Supercars driving standards advisor Craig Baird has been reprimanded by Motorsport Australia after publicly rebuking Walkinshaw’s Ryan Wood as “a grub”.
Last year’s highly contentious inaugural grand final in Adelaide has been largely put to bed by Wood, Triple Eight rival Broc Feeney and their respective teams since the start of this season.
But Baird last week reopened old wounds over Wood’s hit on title contender Feeney and the resulting 15-second time penalty.
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“I think everyone knew, including Woody, that he had been a bit of a grub,” Baird told News Corp.
“You know when you’ve been a grub, I know when you’ve been a grub… he knew he had been a grub.”
Baird has previously put himself in the public eye as the category’s referee, taking interviews and joining podcasts to explain decisions after contentious race weekends.
His remarks over Wood crossed a line, however, with the former Supercars race winner and Porsche champion hauled into meetings with Motorsport Australia.
Baird has now issued an apology via the governing body.
“I would like to formally apologise and retract my comments regarding Ryan Wood and the Walkinshaw TWG Racing Team,” he said.
“It’s clear that these comments were unacceptable and outside the boundaries of my role.
“I have met with Motorsport Australia to ensure I have a clear understanding moving forward regarding public commentary of this nature and understand that this is not acceptable from the driving standards advisor.”
Motorsport Australia also apologised for Baird’s comments.
“These comments constitute a breach of the standards that Motorsport Australia expects of its senior appointed officials,” it said.
“Moreover, any media commentary relating to the individual’s role as a DSA is expressly prohibited under the terms of agreement with Motorsport Australia.
“Craig has been reprimanded for his conduct and served a reminder of his contractual and policy obligations as the DSA.”
Wood had been an odd man out in Supercars’ maiden finals series last year.
Feeney and Triple Eight teammate Will Brown were both competing for the title but Wood and Grove Racing’s Matt Payne missed the cut, meaning their focus was on helping their respective teammates Chaz Mostert and Kai Allen.
Feeney’s cause was not helped by the collision with Wood in the grand final but his hopes were ultimately undone by an engine issue.
He remained offside with Wood over summer and their relationship only thawed somewhat over the New Zealand double-header in April.
Feeney leads the 2026 championship after five rounds from Payne and Brodie Kostecki.
Wood (seventh) and Mostert (10th) have claimed just one win apiece and an additional five podiums between them following Walkinshaw’s off-season switch to Toyota.
