T8 backs GR Cup champion

Triple Eight Race Engineering has signed rising motorsport talent Oli Wickham to a long-term driver development program, with the 16-year-old set to make his Ford Mustang Cup Australia debut this weekend at Queensland Raceway.

The Brisbane-based Supercars powerhouse announced the new partnership as part of a program designed to mentor and develop Wickham through the early stages of his racing career while identifying future opportunities within the organisation.

Wickham attracted the attention of Triple Eight management through a combination of raw speed, technical understanding and a strong ability to learn, qualities the team believes align closely with its motorsport philosophy. The young Queenslander claimed the GR Cup title in 2025 and has quickly emerged as one of Australia’s most promising junior drivers.

Under the arrangement, Wickham will receive guidance and support from Triple Eight’s management, engineering staff and drivers, both on and off the track.

The pathway mirrors successful development programs previously undertaken by the team. Triple Eight’s current Supercars stars have followed similar routes, including reigning Supercars champion Will Brown, who won the GR Cup in 2016, and championship leader Broc Feeney, who joined the organisation as a teenager through its Super2 program.

Wickham’s first assignment under the new arrangement comes immediately, with the teenager stepping into a second Shaw and Partners Financial Services Racing entry in the Mustang Cup Australia series at Queensland Raceway.

He will race alongside experienced driver Jack Perkins, who will also take on a mentoring role as team manager during Wickham’s debut weekend. Perkins is already a regular competitor in the category and is set to drive for Triple Eight during this year’s Supercars Enduro Cup campaign.

Triple Eight Managing Director Jamie Whincup said the team recognised Wickham’s potential from the first time it saw him behind the wheel.

Whincup said the objective was to identify talented young drivers early, provide them with the right support and place them in programs that maximise their opportunities for success.

The move also signals Triple Eight’s continued interest in driver development beyond its current three-car Supercars operation. While no future plans have been confirmed, the team’s new partnership with Ford Racing could potentially create opportunities in categories such as Mustang Cup and Super2 in coming years.

For Wickham, the opportunity represents a significant step towards his ultimate ambition of racing in Supercars, with the teenager describing Triple Eight as the ideal environment to continue his development and pursue his long-term motorsport goals.