Jake Cook

Born in Rotherham, Cook made his racing debut in 2008 in the Ginetta Junior Winter Championship, taking one podium in three races.{{cite web |url=http://www.driverdb.com/drivers/jake-cook/career/ |title=Jake Cook career statistics |publisher=Driver Database |accessdate=17 May 2013}} For 2009, he entered the full Ginetta Junior Championship season, driving for TJ Motorsport, and won his first race in the series, having qualified on pole, at the Brands Hatch track.{{cite web |url=http://www.btccpages.com/news/9/1285/Cook-enjoys-perfect-start-to-Ginetta-Junior-season/ |title=Cook enjoys perfect start to Ginetta Junior season – Ginettas News |publisher=BTCCPages.com |date=5 April 2009 |accessdate=17 May 2013 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305083823/http://www.btccpages.com/news/9/1285/Cook-enjoys-perfect-start-to-Ginetta-Junior-season/ |url-status=dead }} He won the second race at Brands Hatch, and later followed up these results by winning both races at Snetterton Circuit, and repeating the feat at Knockhill Circuit. However, these results were marred by a 20-point penalty for violating driving standards at Oulton Park. With six races left, Cook was leading the championship from Aaron Williamson and Sarah Moore,{{cite web |url=http://www.ginetta.com/news_article?id=162 |title=Cook's perfect recipe in the Ginetta Junior Championship |publisher=Ginetta Cars |date=25 August 2009 |accessdate=17 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055604/http://www.ginetta.com/news_article?id=162 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} and a victory from the second race at Silverstone Circuit extended his lead.{{cite web |url=http://www.ginetta.com/news_article?id=168 |title=CHAMPIONSHIP PENDULUM SWINGS IN COOK'S FAVOUR |publisher=Ginetta Cars |date=2 September 2009 |accessdate=17 May 2013 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055432/http://www.ginetta.com/news_article?id=168 |url-status=dead }} At the end of the season, however, Cook finished second overall, with Moore becoming the series' first female champion (having already become the series' first female race winner) by 16 points.{{cite web |url=http://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2009/11/ginetta-junior-championship-2009-review/ |title=Ginetta Junior 2009 review – Ginetta Junior |publisher=The Checkered Flag |date=9 November 2009 |accessdate=17 May 2013 |first=Matt |last=Auger}} In August of that year, Cook had joined the Motor Sport AASE programme, part of the MSA's Academy structure.{{cite web |url=http://www.msauk.org/site/cms/newsarticle.asp?chapter=1&nid=1334 |title=Applications now open for 2010 Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence |publisher=Motor Sports Association United Kingdom |date=26 May 2010 |accessdate=17 May 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130704082913/http://www.msauk.org/site/cms/newsarticle.asp?chapter=1&nid=1334 |archive-date=4 July 2013 |url-status=dead }}

In 2010, Cook joined the British Formula Ford Championship, signing for Getem Racing, whom were entering a Mygale SJ07.{{cite web |url=http://www.motorstv.com/car/single-seater/british-formula-ford/03032010/fford-ginetta-ace-steps-formula-ford-2010 |title=F.Ford: Ginetta ace steps up to Formula Ford for 2010 |publisher=Motors TV |date=3 March 2010 |accessdate=17 May 2013 |first=Tom |last=Hornsby |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220102401/http://www.motorstv.com/car/single-seater/british-formula-ford/03032010/fford-ginetta-ace-steps-formula-ford-2010 |archivedate=20 February 2012 |df=dmy-all }} His first podium came at the Zandvoort Circuit, before his season came to a premature close due to funding issues, resulting in Cook finishing ninth overall.{{cite web |url=http://www.jakecookracing.co.uk/profile.htm |title=Jake Cook: Profile|website=Jake Cook Racing|accessdate=17 May 2013}} Cook did, however, enter that year's Formula Ford Festival (held at the Brands Hatch circuit), and got through to the semi-final, where he retired on the first lap.{{cite web |url=http://www.tsl-timing.com/brscc/2010/104131.pdf |title=Formula Ford Festival: 16th and 17th October 2010 |publisher=British Racing & Sports Car Club |date=17 October 2010 |accessdate=17 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102014400/http://www.tsl-timing.com/brscc/2010/104131.pdf |archive-date=2 November 2014 |url-status=dead }} Following this season, he was the first driver to be awarded the MSA's Young Driver of the Year award.{{cite web |url=http://www.racecar.com/Motorsport/News/Jake-Cook-becomes-first-ever-RSF-MSA-Young-Driver-of-the-Year/38989.htm |title=Jake Cook becomes first ever RSF MSA Young Driver of the Year |publisher=Racecar |date=13 January 2011 |accessdate=18 May 2013}}

Cook returned to the series in 2011 with Jamun Racing, signing a one-round deal for the season opener at Silverstone,{{cite web |url=http://www.motorstv.com/car/single-seater/british-formula-ford/01042011/cook-and-williams-get-mygales-formula-ford |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629221518/http://www.motorstv.com/car/single-seater/british-formula-ford/01042011/cook-and-williams-get-mygales-formula-ford |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 June 2013 |title=Cook and Williams get Mygales for Formula Ford |publisher=Motors TV |date=1 April 2011 |accessdate=17 May 2013 |first=Andy |last=Wilkinson }} with his best result a seventh place in the second race of the weekend.{{cite web |url=http://www.motorstv.com/car/single-seater/british-formula-ford/11042011/malvern-slaghekke-and-uhrhane-take-silverstone-wins |title=Malvern, Slaghekke and Uhrhane take Silverstone wins |publisher=Motors TV |date=11 April 2011 |accessdate=17 May 2013 |first=Andy |last=Wilkinson |archive-date=10 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510083900/http://www.motorstv.com/car/single-seater/british-formula-ford/11042011/malvern-slaghekke-and-uhrhane-take-silverstone-wins |url-status=dead }} Following this event, however he remained with the team until the Zandvoort round, and finished the season in 12th place.{{cite web |url=http://www.brscc.co.uk/assets/final-points-dunlopmsaff.pdf |title=Dunlop MSA Formula Ford 2011 standings |publisher=British Racing & Sports Car Club |accessdate=17 May 2013}} He also competed in two of the four Formula Ford EuroCup events, with a best result of eighth from race one of the second round at Zandvoort.{{cite web |url=http://www.driverdb.com/drivers/jake-cook/race-results/ |title=Jake Cook race results |publisher=Driver Database |accessdate=18 May 2013}}

File:Dunlop MSA Formula Ford GB - -2 Jake Cooke (GBR) - Mygale 1600T (8109295879).jpg

For 2012, Cook remained in the British Formula Ford with Jamun Racing, with the series using the new Ford Ecoboost engine for the first time.{{cite web |url=http://blog.caranddriver.com/ecoboost-goes-racing-new-2012-formula-ford-powered-by-turbocharged-1-6-liter/ |title=EcoBoost Goes Racing: New 2012 Formula Ford Powered by Turbocharged 1.6-Liter |publisher=Car and Driver Blog |date=12 September 2011 |accessdate=18 May 2013 |first=Alexander |last=Stoklosa |archive-date=6 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406154639/http://blog.caranddriver.com/ecoboost-goes-racing-new-2012-formula-ford-powered-by-turbocharged-1-6-liter/ |url-status=dead }} This proved to be Cook's most successful season in the series, with his first win coming in the second round of the season opener at Brands Hatch.{{cite web |url=http://www.britishformulaford.co.uk/cook-williams-join-the-ecoboost-victory-club/ |title=Cook & Williams join the EcoBoost victory club |publisher=British Formula Ford |date=9 April 2012 |accessdate=18 May 2013 |archive-date=7 July 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707020528/http://www.britishformulaford.co.uk/cook-williams-join-the-ecoboost-victory-club/ |url-status=dead }} His second win came at the second race of the season finale at Donington Park,{{cite web |url=http://www.britishformulaford.co.uk/buri-crowned-formula-ford-champ-at-donington-2/ |title=Buri crowned Formula Ford Champ at Donington |publisher=British Formula Ford |date=29 September 2012 |accessdate=18 May 2013 |archive-date=7 July 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707014301/http://www.britishformulaford.co.uk/buri-crowned-formula-ford-champ-at-donington-2/ |url-status=dead }} where he secured a second-place finish the championship.{{cite web |url=http://www.brscc.co.uk/SEASON-REVIEW-MSA-DUNLOP-FORMULA-FORD |title=SEASON REVIEW: DUNLOP MSA FORMULA FORD |publisher=British Racing & Sports Car Club |date=14 November 2012 |accessdate=18 May 2013}} In addition to the two victories, Cook finished on the podium 12 more times, with three fastest laps. During the season, Cook also competed in the Zandvoort round of the Formula Ford EuroCup, with a single victory coming at the third race.{{cite web |url=http://www.britishformulaford.co.uk/race-win-for-cook-eurocup-zandvoort-crown-for-lichtenstein/ |title=Race win for Cook, Eurocup crown for Zandvoort crown for Lichtenstein |publisher=British Formula Ford |date=15 July 2012 |accessdate=18 May 2013 |archive-date=7 July 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707020135/http://www.britishformulaford.co.uk/race-win-for-cook-eurocup-zandvoort-crown-for-lichtenstein/ |url-status=dead }}

In 2013, Cook made the switch to the Protyre Formula Renault Championship series, driving for Hillspeed Racing, a series which his aunt's brother, David, had won in 1996.{{cite web |url=http://www.renaultsport.co.uk/championships/formularenaultbarc/newsstory/213/Famous-Cook-name-returns-to-Formula-Renault-with-Hillspeed |title=Famous Cook name returns to Formula Renault with Hillspeed |publisher=Renaultsport |date=21 February 2013 |accessdate=18 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527060754/http://renaultsport.co.uk/championships/formularenaultbarc/newsstory/213/Famous-Cook-name-returns-to-Formula-Renault-with-Hillspeed |archive-date=27 May 2013 |url-status=dead }} His debut in the series came at Donington Park, where he finished 12th in race one, and 4th in race two.{{cite web |url=http://www.hillspeed.co.uk/latest-news/2013/04/15/CONSISTENT_START_TO_PROTYRE_FORMULA_RENAULT_SEASON_FOR_HILLSPEED/ |title=Consistent Start tO Protyre Formua Renault Season For Hillspeed |publisher=Hillspeed Racing |date=15 April 2013 |accessdate=18 May 2013 |archive-date=1 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201225952/http://www.hillspeed.co.uk/latest-news/2013/04/15/CONSISTENT_START_TO_PROTYRE_FORMULA_RENAULT_SEASON_FOR_HILLSPEED/ |url-status=dead }} A hat-trick of podiums followed at the second round, held at Snetterton Circuit, resulting in Cook leaving the track in second place overall in the championship standings.{{cite web |url=http://www.hillspeed.co.uk/latest-news/2013/05/13/COOK_AND_RAO_CELEBRATE_MAIDEN_PODIUMS_AT_DRAMAFILLED_SNETTERTON/ |title=Cook and Rao Celebrate Maiden Podiums at Drama-Filled Snetterton |publisher=Hillspeed Racing |date=13 May 2013 |accessdate=18 May 2013 |archive-date=1 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201225949/http://www.hillspeed.co.uk/latest-news/2013/05/13/COOK_AND_RAO_CELEBRATE_MAIDEN_PODIUMS_AT_DRAMAFILLED_SNETTERTON/ |url-status=dead }} He took two more podiums at Thruxton, and, apart from two retirements, did not finish below sixth after that weekend.{{cite web |url=http://www.renaultsport.co.uk/championships/formularenaultbarc/pointstable/36/Protyre-Formula-Renault-Championship---Drivers-Points-Table |title=2013 Protyre Formula Renault Championship – Drivers Points Table |publisher=Renault Sport |accessdate=26 January 2014}} At Silverstone, in the first race of the day, he took second, and his first fastest lap in the season; as a result, he finished the season in fifth place, with 292 points.{{cite web |url=http://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2013/11/2013-protyre-formula-renault-championship-season-review/ |title=2013 Protyre Formula Renault season review |publisher=The Checkered Flag |date=18 November 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2014 |first=Simon |last=Paice}} His performances in the series saw him named as a BRDC Rising Star in August.{{cite web |url=http://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2013/08/brdc-unveil-latest-rising-stars-intake/ |title=BRDC Unveil Latest Rising Stars Intake |publisher=The Checkered Flag |date=21 August 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2014 |first=Simon |last=Plaice}} Following the end of the Formula Renault season, Cook was selected to drive for Hillspeed in the BRDC Formula 4 Winter Championship.{{cite web |url=http://f4-staging.motorsportvision.co.uk/news/jake-cook-signs-up-to-f4-winter-series-with-hillspeed.aspx |title=Jake Cook signs up to F4 Winter Championship with Hillspeed |publisher=BRDC Formula 4 News |accessdate=26 January 2014 |archive-date=3 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203125642/http://f4-staging.motorsportvision.co.uk/news/jake-cook-signs-up-to-f4-winter-series-with-hillspeed.aspx |url-status=dead }} On the third race of his debut weekend, held at Snetterton, he started from pole, and won the race.{{cite web |url=http://www.formula4.com/news/sn-ws-r3-report.aspx |title=Jake Cooks up a dream win at Snetterton on debut weekend |publisher=BRDC Formula 4 News |accessdate=26 January 2014 |archive-date=1 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201224218/http://www.formula4.com/news/sn-ws-r3-report.aspx |url-status=dead }} He followed this with another win in the following race,{{cite web |url=http://www.paddockscout.com/cook-wins-again-in-race-four-at-snetterton/ |title=Cook wins again in race four at Snetterton |publisher=PaddockScout.com |date=10 November 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2014 |first=Peter |last=Allen}} and two podiums at Brands Hatch, on his way to securing second in the championship.{{cite web |url=http://www.formula4.com/results/2013-winter-series/winter-series.aspx |title=F4 – Winter Series – 2013 Standings |publisher=BRDC Formula 4 News |accessdate=26 January 2014 |archive-date=19 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219074752/http://www.formula4.com/results/2013-winter-series/winter-series.aspx |url-status=dead }} At the end of the season, he was named in The Checkered Flag's Top 10 UK Single-Seater drivers list.{{cite web |url=http://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2013/12/top-ten-uk-single-seater-drivers-2013/ |title=TCF Top 10: UK Single-Seaters 2013 |publisher=The Checkered Flag |date=2 December 2013 |accessdate=26 January 2014 |first=Simon |last=Plaice}}

Jake Cook was the nephew of former British Touring Car Championship driver Paula Cook, and was also related to former British Formula Renault champion David Cook and former Shellsport International Series driver Derek Cook. He stated in 2013 that his ambition was to become a Formula 1 driver, with his hero having been Ayrton Senna, and that he was a Sheffield Wednesday fan.{{cite web |url=http://theracewire.com/driver.php?driverid=7 |title=Jake Cook Biography |publisher=The RaceWire |accessdate=18 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206224532/http://theracewire.com/driver.php?driverid=7 |archive-date=6 December 2013 |url-status=dead }} He studied Economics at Newcastle University.{{cite web |url=http://www.formula4.com/drivers/2013-winter-series-drivers/jake-cook.aspx |title=Driver: Jake Cook |publisher=BRDC Formula 4 Championship |accessdate=26 January 2014 |archive-date=1 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201224416/http://www.formula4.com/drivers/2013-winter-series-drivers/jake-cook.aspx |url-status=dead }}

Cook died by suicide at the age of 30 in November 2023, having struggled with mental health issues. He was a father of two.{{cite web|url=https://gb.readly.com/magazines/autosport/2023-11-23/655ef88fd3ae1b9bad7ad9f7|title=Tributes paid to former single-seater star and driver coach Jake Cook|website=Readly|publisher=Autosport|last=Lickorish|first=Stephen|url-access=subscription|date=23 November 2023|access-date=3 December 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalworld.com/news/jake-cook-mind-racing-driver-4559145|title=Jake Cook: Friends to run marathon together in memory of racing driver and young dad who took his own life at 30|website=National World|date=18 March 2024|access-date=3 December 2024}}

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{official website|http://www.jakecookracing.co.uk/}}
• [https://archive.today/20130707053216/http://www.renaultsport.co.uk/championships/formularenaultbarc/drivers/jake-cook Formula Renault profile]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cook, Jake}}

Category:Living people

Category:1993 births

Category:2023 deaths

Category:2023 suicides

Category:Alumni of Newcastle University

Category:Suicides in England

Category:English racing drivers

Category:British Formula Renault 2.0 drivers

Category:Sportspeople from Rotherham

Category:Racing drivers from Yorkshire

Category:Ginetta Junior Championship drivers

Category:Formula Renault BARC drivers