Get ready to swap your Bentleys for… well, slightly smaller Austins. The most fiercely contested, and arguably most adorable, race of the Goodwood Revival weekend is offering a prize that’s pure, unadulterated childhood dream fuel.
Forget Formula 1 for a moment, folks, because the real high-octane drama (at a considerably lower, and safer, velocity) unfolds at the annual Settrington Cup pedal car race. And now, your own miniature motorsport hero has the chance to etch their name into its hallowed, tiny-tyred history . Austin Pedal Cars, in a move dripping with nostalgia and charm, is offering one lucky child the opportunity of a lifetime: to pilot a genuine piece of pedal car racing heritage at the 2025 Goodwood Revival.
This isn’t just any old pedal car, mind you. We’re talking about the very Austin J40 that was triumphantly pedalled to victory by a young Ted French at the inaugural Austin Pedal Cars Junior Grand Prix way back in 1955 . His prize for this monumental feat of pre-pubescent power? The J40 itself, which, with doting fatherly assistance, became a cherished companion for the rest of his childhood and, incredibly, for the next 70 years. This little car still proudly wears its original race number and the glorious “battle scars” of a life well-loved and vigorously pedalled . It’s a testament to youthful exuberance and, frankly, the kind of robust engineering we rarely see these days, even in full-sized vehicles.
The tale of this historically significant J40’s return to the track is almost as charming as the car itself. While penning an award-winning book on the J40’s legacy, the team at Austin Pedal Cars unearthed Ted’s story and his remarkable car . Realising that 2025 would mark the 70th anniversary of his groundbreaking win, a plan was hatched: this legendary J40 had to race again, to mark this special milestone.
And so, seven decades after it was first awarded as a gleaming prize, this patinated champion will grace the grid of the largest and most famous J40 race in the world – The Settrington Cup at Goodwood. Fear not, purists; while Austin Pedal Cars will fully prep the little Austin for its racing duties, its characterful, time-worn bodywork will be preserved, honouring its unique place in classic pedal car history. It’s a “sympathetic restoration,” ensuring the spirit of ’55 lives on, one determined pedal stroke at a time.
The spoils for the chosen young racer are suitably grand. The prize package includes not only the chance to compete in Ted French’s historic car in both the Saturday and Sunday heats of the Settrington Cup, but also four weekend tickets for the entire family to soak in the vintage splendour of the 2025 Goodwood Revival . Add a host of Austin J40 merchandise and a crucial “familiarisation pedal” with the car at Goodwood Motor Circuit before the main event, and you’ve got a recipe for an unforgettable family weekend.
Mark Burnett, Managing Director of Austin Pedal Cars, rightly describes it as “a very special prize, not just for fans of the Austin J40, but for any family who wants to give their child the experience of a lifetime”. He anticipates the car, built in 1955 and enjoyed throughout its life, will “cause a stir throughout the Revival weekend”. We’d say that’s an understatement; prepare for a cuteness overload of epic proportions.
So, if your child fancies themselves a budding Stirling Moss (albeit with slightly less horsepower and a much earlier bedtime), this is their moment. The competition is now open, and it’s described as “easy to enter” . This isn’t just a race; it’s a chance to be part of a heartwarming story, a nod to a simpler time, and an opportunity to create memories that will last far longer than the tyre tread on a J40. Time to get those little legs limbered up!
