Louise Cook

{{about|the British driver|the British refugee campaigner|Louise Cook (humanitarian)}}

{{Infobox WRC driver

| name = Louise Cook

| image = 2012 rallye deutschland by 2eight dsc3763.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Cook (right) at the 2012 Rallye Deutschland

| nationality = {{flagicon|GBR}} British

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|05|14|df=y}}

| birth_place = Maidstone, Kent, England

| death_date =

| death_place =

| Years = 2012, 2016–present

| Co-driver = Stefan Davis, R. Toer

| Teams = Rally Team GB

| Races = 13

| Championships = 0

| Wins =

| Podiums = 0

| Stagewins = 0

| Points = 0

| First race = 2012 Monte Carlo Rally

| First win =

| Last win =

| Last race =

| updated = 11 October 2019

}}

Louise Cook (born 14 May 1987) is a British rally driver. In 2012, she became the first woman to win the FIA Production Car Cup for Drivers of 2WD. In a career which has seen her struggle to obtain sufficient sponsorship to allow her to participate in rallying events, Cook has also won the British Rally Championship Ladies' title in 2010 and 2011.

Biography

=Early life and career=

Cook was born on 14 May 1987 in Maidstone in the English county of Kent. She attributes her taste in rallying to her father Robert who bought her a battery powered vehicle on her sixth birthday. Cook regularly used the car for several hours until its battery died and she occasionally caused property damage to the family home.{{cite web|title=Driver Profiles: Louise Cook|url=http://www.rallyteamgb.com:80/driver-profiles/|publisher=Rally Team GB|access-date=20 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130227053652/http://www.rallyteamgb.com/driver-profiles/|archive-date=27 February 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} She studied car design at Coventry University.{{Cite journal|date=April 2012|title=The Interviews: Louise Cook|journal=Fast Car|issue=314|pages=89}} Cook had her first experience in rally at the age of nineteen while attending a car show and noticed an advertisement to encourage more women into rallying. Although she had no prior rallying experience, the driver entered and came second out of 1000 women. Cook's first rally participation was behind the wheel of a Peugeot 205 in the 2006 Rockingham Stages. Cook was the youngest driver in the race and ranked 51st out of 105 competitors.{{cite journal|last=Erlam|first=Peter|date=Autumn 2011|title=Driven by an ambition to be the best|journal=Mid Kent Living|pages=4–5}} It was at this rally that she began her partnership with her co-driver Stefan Davis.{{Cite news|url=http://www.kentsportsnews.com/cook-giving-fans-once-in-a-lifetime-chance-03-10-2012/|title=Cook giving fans once in a lifetime chance|last=Wolfe|first=Steve|date=3 October 2012|work=Kent Sports News|access-date=20 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021010150/http://www.kentsportsnews.com/cook-giving-fans-once-in-a-lifetime-chance-03-10-2012/|archive-date=21 October 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

Two years later, during an annual trip to Finland to improve her handling technique, she had an accident where she crashed her car against a frozen snow bank over {{Convert|130|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} and broke her collarbone and nine ribs. In 2009, Cook decided to formally compete in a rally championship and thus sought sponsors for her plan called Promotion 50, which focused on obtaining the support of 500 sponsors who contributed £50 each. The plan won her the support of 300 companies and together with support from commercial sponsors and her own contributions, Cook was able to secure the budget required to partake in the 2010 British Rally Championship.

To allow herself to commit to rallying, she resigned from her job as a receptionist for Kent County Council in February 2010.{{cite news|title=Louise has her sights on winning rally championship|url=http://www.pressreader.com/uk/kent-messenger-maidstone/20100514/281522222308460|work=Kent Messenger|page=52|date=14 May 2010|access-date=20 October 2017|via=PressReader|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021004735/http://www.pressreader.com/uk/kent-messenger-maidstone/20100514/281522222308460|archive-date=21 October 2017|df=dmy-all}} Her first season was considered successful by taking four class podium finishes with two of those being victories and was ranked in the top ten standings of the British Rally Championship Challenge. Cook's results led her to winning the C4 class title and the Women's championship. In the following season, she failed to record a podium finish, but come the end of her campaign, she was second in her class rankings. After a closely fought contest at the championship's penultimate round, the Rally Yorkshire, which became the final rally of the season following the cancellation of the Isle of Man Rally. This consequently forced Cook to undertake a last-minute rethink of her strategy.{{Cite news|url=http://www.kentsportsnews.com/cook-claims-rally-championship-26-09-2011/|title=Cook claims Rally Championship|last=Wolf|first=Steve|date=26 September 2011|work=Kent Sports News|access-date=20 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021005434/http://www.kentsportsnews.com/cook-claims-rally-championship-26-09-2011/|archive-date=21 October 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Her results allowed her to retain the Ladies' championship for the second successive year.

=World Rally Championship career=

File:Louise Cook with Stefan Davis Deutsche Rallye 2018.jpg for the 2018 Rallye Deutschland]]

Cook began competing in the World Rally Championship (WRC) in the production class in 2012 and drove a Ford Fiesta ST.{{cite web|last=Salisbury|first=Matt|title=Cook ready to launch PWRC campaign|url=http://www.crash.net/wrc/news/175684/1/pwrc-cook-prepares-to-launch-2012-campaign|work=crash.net|date=23 December 2011|access-date=20 October 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021005044/http://www.crash.net/wrc/news/175684/1/pwrc-cook-prepares-to-launch-2012-campaign|archive-date=21 October 2017|df=dmy-all}}{{cite news|last=Jefferies|first=Martin|title=Champion rally driver Louise Cook raises enough money to race in New Zealand|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/champion-rally-driver-louise-coo-a63623/|work=KentOnline|date=13 June 2012|access-date=20 October 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021011603/http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/champion-rally-driver-louise-coo-a63623/|archive-date=21 October 2017|df=dmy-all}} One day before the deadline for production entries, her team had not decided on whether they wished to enter but chose to file an entry shortly before it was closed.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sportingmemoriesnetwork.com/l407/a_baptism_of_fire_and_ice_for_louise_as_she_makes_history.aspx|title=A baptism of fire and ice for Louise as she makes history|last=Cook|first=Louise|date=3 September 2012|publisher=Sporting Memories Network|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021004224/http://www.sportingmemoriesnetwork.com/l407/a_baptism_of_fire_and_ice_for_louise_as_she_makes_history.aspx|archive-date=21 October 2017|url-status=live|access-date=20 October 2017|df=dmy-all}} At the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally, Cook became the first woman to claim a production class podium position by finishing in second place.{{cite news|title=Rally driver Louise Cook sells trophies to finance title dream|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/18424595|work=BBC Sport|date=13 June 2012|access-date=20 October 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323035318/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/18424595|archive-date=23 March 2017|df=dmy-all}} Her next rally five months later in Greece saw her secure a sixth place production class result despite her car becoming damaged. Cook's funding had dried up before Rally New Zealand and was forced to sell her trophies on eBay to raise £17,000 which enabled her continuation in the championship.

She contracted flu and later a chest infection but still drove cautiously to claim second in the production class.{{Cite news|url=http://www.kentsportsnews.com/cook-shines-at-nz-rally-after-funding-battle-26-06-2012/|title=Cook shines at NZ Rally after funding battle|last=Wolfe|first=Steve|date=26 June 2012|work=Kent Sports News|access-date=1 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301194616/http://www.kentsportsnews.com/cook-shines-at-nz-rally-after-funding-battle-26-06-2012/|archive-date=1 March 2018|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Cook had her first (and only) retirement of the season in the Rallye Deutschland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesrallygb.com/mobile/news/417.php|title=Loeb makes it nine in Germany|date=27 August 2012|publisher=Wales Rally GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021005157/https://www.walesrallygb.com/mobile/news/417.php|archive-date=21 October 2017|url-status=live|access-date=20 October 2017|df=dmy-all}} In the Rally d'Italia Sardegna, her car was affected by multiple problems and fought through pain in her left arm to finish tenth in her class.{{Cite web|url=https://www.matsuura.co.uk/news-engineering-solutions/2012/10/29/tough-point-for-tough-cookie/|title=Tough Point for Tough Cookie|date=29 October 2012|publisher=Matsuura Machinery|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021055838/https://www.matsuura.co.uk/news-engineering-solutions/2012/10/29/tough-point-for-tough-cookie/|archive-date=21 October 2017|url-status=live|access-date=20 October 2012|df=dmy-all}} Cook was diagnosed with a broken collarbone by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile's (FIA) medical delegate Jean Duby and was required to withdraw from the season-ending Rally Catalunya.{{Cite web|url=http://rajdy.autoklub.pl/news/runda-pwrc-bez-kobiet,45786|title=Rally RACC Catalunya – Costa Daurada 2012 – Runda PWRC bez kobiet|date=8 November 2012|website=Autoklub.pl|language=pl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021004841/http://rajdy.autoklub.pl/news/runda-pwrc-bez-kobiet,45786|archive-date=21 October 2017|url-status=live|access-date=20 October 2017|df=dmy-all}} Her results throughout the season made her the first woman to clinch an WRC title with the FIA Production Car Cup for Drivers of 2WD.{{cite web|last=Craig|first=Andrew|title=UK's fastest rallying lady ‑ Louise Cook ‑ to fly again at FoS|url=https://www.goodwood.com/grrc/event-coverage/festival-of-speed/2015/6/uks-fastest-rallying-lady---louise-cook---to-fly-again-at-fos/|publisher=Goodwood Road & Racing|date=4 June 2015|access-date=20 October 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030050244/https://www.goodwood.com/grrc/event-coverage/festival-of-speed/2015/6/uks-fastest-rallying-lady---louise-cook---to-fly-again-at-fos/|archive-date=30 October 2017|df=dmy-all}}

In 2014, Cook trained the actor Idris Elba in helping him refine his rallying ability for the BBC documentary Idris Elba: King of Speed.{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbcamerica.com/shows/idris-elba-king-of-speed/about|title=Idris Elba: King of Speed – About the Show|date=2014|publisher=BBC America|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021004845/http://www.bbcamerica.com/shows/idris-elba-king-of-speed/about|archive-date=21 October 2017|url-status=live|access-date=20 October 2017|df=dmy-all}} Days before she was due to enter the 2015 Rally d'Italia, a surgical screw from an operation three years previously got stuck in her subclavian artery and obstructed blood flow which led to her being transported to Maidstone Hospital. Cook consequently had her clavicle plate carefully removed but it took her time to get her strength back.{{cite news|last=Pyman|first=Tom|title=Louise Cook speaks out on WRC struggles|url=http://www.kentnews.co.uk/sport/louise-cook-speaks-out-on-wrc-struggles-1-4309531|work=KentNews|date=12 November 2015|access-date=20 October 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021005010/http://www.kentnews.co.uk/sport/louise-cook-speaks-out-on-wrc-struggles-1-4309531|archive-date=21 October 2017|df=dmy-all}} It was announced in July 2016 that she had obtained the funding which allowed her to take part in the Rally Finland.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rallystar.net/louise-cook-returns-to-the-wrc-after-a-three-year-absence/|title=Louise Cook Returns To The WRC After A Three-Year Absence|last=van der Walt|first=Andries|date=13 July 2016|website=Rallystar|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021004512/http://www.rallystar.net/louise-cook-returns-to-the-wrc-after-a-three-year-absence/|archive-date=21 October 2017|url-status=live|access-date=20 October 2017|df=dmy-all}} Cook survived an intermittent engine misfire caused by a damaged crankshaft sensor and this prompted a mid-rally engine switch. She eventually finished 53rd overall.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2016/08/louise-cooks-wrc-return-rewarded-rally-finland-finish/|title=Louise Cook's WRC return rewarded with Rally Finland finish|last=Hassan|first=Umar|date=5 August 2016|website=The Checkered Flag|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021004743/https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2016/08/louise-cooks-wrc-return-rewarded-rally-finland-finish/|archive-date=21 October 2017|url-status=live|access-date=20 October 2017|df=dmy-all}}

Cook turned to crowdfunding and sold more of her trophies to enable her to pay for her entry fees for WRC-3 in 2017 after some of her major sponsors pulled out.{{cite news|last=Wiseman|first=Ed|title=Rally driver Louise Cook auctions trophy to fund 2017 WRC3 campaign|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/news/rally-driver-louise-cook-auctions-trophy-fund-2017-wrc3-campaign/|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=12 January 2017|access-date=20 October 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327074746/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/news/rally-driver-louise-cook-auctions-trophy-fund-2017-wrc3-campaign/|archive-date=27 March 2017|df=dmy-all}} She had to retire from Rally Sweden after losing her Ford Fiesta's bumper before the Colin's Crest jump during the second pass over the Vargåsen stage. Cook was able to re-assemble the car, but a homologation problem in the spare seat brackets made her unable to start the final leg of the rally.{{Cite web|url=https://www.carthrottle.com/post/watch-a-rally-cars-bonnet-flip-up-at-the-most-inappropriate-moment/|title=Watch A Rally Car's Bonnet Flip Up At The Most Inappropriate Moment|last=Robinson|first=Matt|date=February 2017|website=Car Throttle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021055827/https://www.carthrottle.com/post/watch-a-rally-cars-bonnet-flip-up-at-the-most-inappropriate-moment/|archive-date=21 October 2017|url-status=live|access-date=20 October 2017|df=dmy-all}} Although her name was in the entry list for the fourth round of the season, the Tour de Corse,{{Cite web|url=https://www.rallye-sport.fr/liste-engages-tour-de-corse-2017/|title=Liste des engagés Tour de Corse|date=16 March 2017|website=Rallye-Sport|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319044051/https://www.rallye-sport.fr/liste-engages-tour-de-corse-2017/|archive-date=19 March 2017|url-status=dead|access-date=20 October 2017}} she could not raise the necessary amount of funding to take part in the rally.{{Cite news|url=http://www.downsmail.co.uk/news_sport/News/Big_cash_blow_for_Aylesford_rally_driver_Louise_Cook/|title=Big cash blow for Aylesford rally driver Louise Cook|date=12 April 2017|work=Downs Mail|access-date=20 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021055911/http://www.downsmail.co.uk/news_sport/News/Big_cash_blow_for_Aylesford_rally_driver_Louise_Cook/|archive-date=21 October 2017|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

Cook entered the 2018 Rally Italia Sardegna as a private entrant in a WRC-3 Peugeot 208 R2 that she hired from Spanish team Mavisa Sport after the Ford Fiesta R2 she intended to drive could not be used because no team manager could be found to enter the car for scrutineering the week before.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kentsportsnews.com/successful-weekend-for-cook-11-06-2018/|title=Successful weekend for Cook|last=Bruce|first=Andrew|date=11 June 2018|website=Kent Sports News|url-status=live|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620181417/http://www.kentsportsnews.com/successful-weekend-for-cook-11-06-2018/|archive-date=20 June 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/june-2018/cook-car/page/5495--12-12-.html|title=Car switch hampers Cook|date=5 June 2018|publisher=World Rally Championship|url-status=live|access-date=20 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620203727/http://www.wrc.com/en/wrc/news/june-2018/cook-car/page/5495--12-12-.html|archive-date=20 June 2018}} She prepared for the rally by taking a {{Convert|30|km|mi|abbr=on}} test. Cook finished third out of four entrants after problems with seat padding in pre-rally scrutineering was deemed illegal, reducing her visibility. She switched to Team Floral to drive its Ford Fiesta R2T for Rallye Deutschland and received donations from crowdfunding to enter the event. Cook placed third out of four entrants.{{Cite web|url=http://revistascratch.com/wrc/noticia/el-rallye-de-alemania-low-cost-de-louise-cook-que-acabo-en-podio-45936|title=El Rallye de Alemania 'Low cost' de Louise Cook que acabó en podio|last=Durán|first=David|date=29 August 2018|publisher=Revista Stratch|language=es|url-status=live|access-date=23 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123201957/http://revistascratch.com/wrc/noticia/el-rallye-de-alemania-low-cost-de-louise-cook-que-acabo-en-podio-45936|archive-date=23 November 2018}} She followed this with a ninth-place finish in the season's next round, Rally Turkey.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kentsportsnews.com/tough-turkey-weekend-for-cook-20-09-2018/|title=Tough Turkey weekend for Cook|last=Bruce|first=Andrew|date=20 September 2018|publisher=Kent Sports News|url-status=live|access-date=23 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124003630/http://www.kentsportsnews.com/tough-turkey-weekend-for-cook-20-09-2018/|archive-date=24 November 2018}}

=YouTube channel=

Since 24 July 2011, Louise Cook has maintained her own channel on YouTube called "Cookie and Cars", with the majority of videos revolving around sim racing and other car-related content.

As of November 2023, the channel has 222K subscribers.

{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/c/CookieAndCars/featured|title=Cookie And Cars – YouTube|website=www.youtube.com}}