Louise Cook has gone to extraordinary lengths just to make the Rally New Zealand start-line, but she believes it’s all been worth it.

Cook, from Maidstone, faced losing her rallying licence if she didn’t make the start line in New Zealand and put out an appeal to help her find the £16,000 necessary to compete.

Two weeks on and she is in New Zealand and will be using the loaned Stadium Cars/Nichibo New Zealand Ford Fiesta ST, competing in the 2WD class of the Group N production category.

While she still has to work hard to get sponsorship, Cook says it’s become easier with her increased profile.

“People used to think I was lying about being a rally driver, she said. “When I first tried to get £50 sponsors around local industrial estates, people would wander off and check on the internet quick before they would help me.

“I guess I’m not a stereotypical rally driver, but I’m not a big fan of stereotypes and I believe you should try to do things in life you want to, irrespective of who you are or how you look.”

Cook even went to the unusual step of auctioning off some of her trophies on ebay to get the funds to make the trip to New Zealand.

Excited about the chance to come all the way to New Zealand after being told first-hand what an amazing place it is, Cook nominated the event as one of the rounds she has to contest to compete in the Production World Rally Championship.

“I had to choose at least one long-haul round and New Zealand looked great. My brother has been travelling around the country and my late father spoke very highly of New Zealand – it was his most favourite place in the whole world. I think he wanted to stay there.

“The roads look amazing and have a great reputation for being real drivers stages. All the people I’ve been in contact with so far have been great and very helpful, so hopefully this is a sign of how New Zealand people are.

“It’d be great to finish Rally New Zealand and to learn the character of the place. It can sound lame doing these events and aiming to see all the stages, but it’s so important to my career right now.

“If the notes are going well and the car feels right, I’ll have a push, but 2012 is a no-risk season to get ready for 2013.”