Louise Cook will be giving her Ford Fiesta ST a rest when she resumes her bid for the FIA Production Car Cup for Drivers of 2WD Cars in Rally New Zealand.

Cook finished sixth in the Production Car world championship section of the Acropolis Rally last month despite admitting she feared the nimble Fiesta wouldn’t be able to make the finish of the Greek event, which is famed for its punishing rock-strewn roads and searing ambient temperatures.

Rather than transport her car from Europe to the Southern Hemisphere, the British driver will hire a Fiesta ST from a team based in New Zealand for her debut on the Auckland-based event and her third appearance of the 2012 PWRC.

“The Fiesta took some serious impacts [in Greece] despite my best efforts and I was convinced that it would not sustain the impacts the rally had to offer,” said Cook.

“To be sixth in the Production World Rally Championship in a rally like that was something I never imagined. It would be great to return next year with a stronger car.”

Although they won’t be eligible for PWRC points, Cook will be able to judge her pace against three local Fiesta ST drivers, Phil Campbell, Ben Hunt and Dermot Malley.

The Rally New Zealand takes place between the 21st and 24th of June.