The Chichester Cup contender who’s crossed the world to honour Jack Brabham

The rain-slicked tarmac presented a challenging, damp practice session, but 25-year-old Wingett was entirely focused on the opportunity ahead of her. “There’s a little bit of nerves,” she admitted, “but overall, I’m very excited to be part of such a prestigious event. It’s very much a pinch-me opportunity. I feel very proud to be here and representing Australia.”

That drive to honour the past is stitched into the very fabric of her weekend. Climbing out of her 1962 Elfin Formula Junior, she unfastened her helmet to reveal a wide smile and a special race suit directly tributing triple World Champion Sir Jack Brabham.  

Back home in Victoria, her day job keeps her in a remarkable proximity to that era, making her tribute to the only man to win a World Championship in a car bearing his own name feel incredibly personal. “I feel honoured to be here, representing Australia and Sir Jack,” Wingett said. “I’m pretty lucky because at work, I get to see the BT19 most days sitting in head office.”

As for Wingett’s car at this year’s Revival, the Elfin Formula Junior is a masterclass of classic Australian engineering. Designed and built in 1962 by engineer and designer Garrie Cooper in South Australia, it represents a golden period of racing down under. That the production line consisted of just 20 cars makes this an incredibly rare machine, but despite its scarcity, this lightweight open-wheeler is a veteran of the historic racing scene, holding a deep emotional connection for its owner, Bill Heming. 

"Bill Heming said to me this car's very precious to him, and that he's seen the world through this car. That’s always stood out to me, that is pretty cool — and that's what [the car] is doing for me too right now. I'm sitting in the UK, which I never thought was possible."

Arriving at the Motor Circuit however brings an immediate reality check. In Australia, the historic Formula Junior fields are tiny, often containing only about three cars. At the Revival, the Chichester Cup — a race for rear-engined, drum-braked Formula Junior cars — transforms into a 30-strong, ultra-competitive grid.

Moreover, any culture shock is compounded by the immense logistical and physical hurdles of the weekend. Before Wingett could even turn a wheel on Goodwood’s ultra-fast, off-camber curves, the Elfin spent three straight months locked inside a dark shipping container crossing the oceans. Meeting a damp, unpredictable British track for the first time in a freshly unboxed car is a daunting task, but the visceral reward of the machine makes the effort worth it.

“The car is very different from anything I've driven,” Wingett said. “It’s just an amazing feeling, wind in your hair and you can feel everything the car's doing. So when you move it or you go over a bump, you can feel it in your whole body."

Pulling off a transcontinental racing campaign has seen the true community spirit of the sport to shine through at every turn. From the dedicated sponsors back home who funded the dream, to local London car club members who stepped in to help her turn wrenches at testing at Goodwood, the trip has been fuelled by a shared passion, a testament to the fact distant dreams can come true if you push hard enough.

"This whole journey to Goodwood has really been on my social media to encourage, dreams can come true. "It shows the true colours of what motorsport is as a family, not just in Australia, but worldwide,” Wingett reflected. “I hope that I can inspire the younger generation.”

For Wingett, the helmet as the ultimate equaliser, and she is intentional about using her platform to mentor and inspire other young women to find their own way into the sport, be it as drivers, mechanics or marshals.

"I love it. I come into the pits and have a smile on my face," she said with undeniable enthusiasm. "I go out there, and the thrill is just fantastic competing against guys and girls, whoever it might be. The adrenaline is just rushing through your blood. Once you put the helmet down, you're just a person, but it's good to honour who we are and give it a go. Hopefully by me being here, we get more women involved.”

When the flag drops on the Saturday morning for the Chichester Cup, history, family and a worldwide community will be riding along the cockpit with her. Wingett and her rare Elfin are ready to add a brilliant new chapter to a globetrotting legacy.

Photography by Joe Harding.

Saturday tickets and 3-Day passes for the Goodwood Revival have now sold out, and Friday and Sunday tickets are limited. 

If you’re not already part of the GRRC, you can sign up to the Fellowship today and save ten per cent on your 2026 tickets and grandstand passes, as well as enjoying a whole host of other on-event perks.