Australian Formula Ford Championship leader Oli Wickham signed by Triple Eight

Yokohama AASA Australian Formula Ford Championship leader Oli Wickham has been signed by Triple Eight Race Engineering Australia to its racing program.

The 16-year-old won the highly credentialed Toyota GR Cup in 2025, and this year is taking on open-wheel competition in Formula Ford, winning six of the first 10 races this season.

Triple Eight has identified Wickham as the ideal candidate to benefit from dedicated guidance, support and mentoring both on and off track from Triple Eight management, technical and engineering staff, and drivers.

Current Triple Eight Race Engineering driver Will Brown himself competed in the Australian Formula Ford Championship, as did Chaz Mostert, Cameron Waters, Anton de Pasquale and Thomas Randle.

In fact, two thirds of the current Supercars Championship grid began their circuit racing career in Formula Ford competition.

Australian Auto-Sport Alliance Competition and Commercial Director Marcos Ambrose is delighted by the news and reiterated that Wickham is just the latest talent to come through Formula Ford.

Ambrose himself is a Formula Ford graduate in an era where he competed against Garth Tander and Todd Kelly.

The Triple Eight racing program is designed to nurture, mentor and develop young talents through the early stages of their career.

Triple Eight stated that initially it was Wickham’s talent and raw speed that caught their attention, with the young driver’s technical awareness and ability to learn rapidly.

Wickham’s first race with Triple Eight takes place this weekend at Queensland Raceway, he will steer another Ford, in Ford Mustang Cup Australia.

Oli Wickham, Driver, Triple Eight Race Engineering

“This is the most exciting opportunity I’ve ever had,” Wickham said. “To join this team, with the wealth of knowledge that the drivers, engineers and support crew at Triple Eight possess, is incredible. They are the benchmark in motorsport, and to be here is huge for my development and journey.

“It’s an opportunity to take what I’ve done so far and continue to grow both on and off the track. This is the best place for me to do that, and I’m looking forward to working with everyone here to achieve the best results possible for the team, no matter what I’m driving.

“Mustang Cup this weekend is all about learning from Jack Perkins — everything about the car, the track and the racing, as well as how to go about things in the garage.

“It’s a big step up, but I’m ready for it and excited for it. The goal is to be in a Supercar one day, and this is the best start I could have hoped for.”

Marcos Ambrose – Australian Auto-Sport Competition and Commercial Director

“Everybody at the AASA and the Formula Ford Association are thrilled for Oli,” Ambrose said.

“Oli has come into the Yokohama AASA Australian Formula Ford Championship with a bang - winning races, pole positions and taking fastest laps straight away.

“It's another example of Formula Ford showcasing talent and providing a fantastic car to help junior drivers learn the craft of racing and be seen by those that matter.

“We look forward to watching Oli move up the ranks with his new Triple Eight program.”

Jamie Whincup, Managing Director, Triple Eight Race Engineering

“When we first saw Oli in the car, we knew immediately that we were looking at a very talented young driver. When you see someone with that raw talent who is coachable, eager and intelligent behind the wheel and in the garage, it’s really exciting.

“We want to identify these drivers as they come up through different levels of motorsport. The goal is to mentor and develop them, and place them within a team and program where they can have the greatest opportunity for success and chase down big opportunities.

“We want to invest in a young driver and give them the best shot at fulfilling their dream of becoming the next great talent. Mustang Cup now, then Super2 and Supercars — that’s Oli’s dream, and we’re here to support that every step of the way, both on and off the track. Broc (Feeney) is a great example of that.

“I cannot wait to see what he does in Mustang Cup and beyond.”