Tributes paid to former single-seater star and driver coach jake cook

OBITUARY

Tributes have been paid to Jake Cook, a former star of junior single-seater racing and later a leading driver coach, who has died aged 30.

Cook’s family has a long history in the motoring and motorsport world. His grandfather, car dealership king Derek, raced single-seaters, including a Formula 1 Hesketh in the 1977 Shellsport series, while his aunt Paula competed in the British Touring Car Championship and his uncle David won the 1996 Formula Renault UK title.

Cook Jr made an instant impression in his own car racing career, finishing second to Sarah Moore in the 2009 Ginetta Junior standings before making the move to single-seaters in British Formula Ford with Getem Racing. He also won governing body Motor Sports Association’s inaugural Young Driver of the Year award for those on its advanced apprenticeship in sporting excellence course. Cook then switched to the leading Jamun squad for 2011 and was a title contender in 2012 before again finishing as runner-up in a championship, this time to Antti Buri.

“We saw his development through a couple of different teams to becoming a regular podium finisher with a good number of victories,” recalled series promoter Sam Roach. “It was a pleasure seeing him evolve and move up to higher formulas.”

Cook progressed to the Formula Renault BARC category the following year with Hillspeed, finishing fifth, before ta