Having recovered from surgery and a year-long physical therapy, American racer Sabré Cook is now ready to get back behind the week and will join Round 3 Racing for the last two events of the World Racing League powered by Hagerty in a Porsche Cayman.
After a really promising debut season in the all-female W Series championship, American Sabré Cook had a rough year marred by an injury that ultimately resulted in a full year off the racetrack for the 28-year-old, as she had surgery and subsequent rehabilitation. In June 2021, in fact, Sabré sustained injuries in an accident at Red Bull Ring, Austria, which caused a right hip labral tear, hip impingement, herniated L5, compressed L1 and L2, spinal canal narrowing, SI joint dysfunction, and sacroiliitis. The American still completed the season in W Series and then underwent surgery at OrthoIndy, followed by a year of physical therapy. Cook, a driver with an elite racing resumé that includes a remarkable career in karting - both nationally and internationally - competed in selected races in F4 US and USF2000 before moving to the inaugural season of W Series in 2019. She was a consistent point scorer and stepped on the podium in the reverse-grid race at Assen; having finished 12th in the standings, Cook gained automatic entry to the following season. With the 2020 W Series championship being cancelled for the pandemic, Sabré contested 5 races in the IndyPro 2000 Championship. She returned to the all-female series in 2021, but the injury ultimately prevented the driver from Grand Junction, Colorado, from showing her potential. Now, after a full year of recovery, Sabré Cook announced her return to the racetrack, as she will join Round 3 Racing for the final two rounds of the World Racing League powered by Hagerty. “I’m so ready to race again and thrilled to join Round 3 Racing for my first two races back after recovering from my injury,” commented Sabré. “Their success in WRL speaks for itself and their already existing relationship with Hagerty made it the perfect partnership to step into.” Cook will drive the #701 Cooper Tires Porsche Cayman at Sebring, before the season finale at Circuit of the Americas and will share the car with another talented female driver, Loni Unser, as well as Zack Ping. Part of the Shift Up Now collective - an organization led by Indy500 star Pippa Mann and aimed at supporting female racing drivers - Sabré Cook becomes the ninth Shift Up Now athlete to join Round 3 Racing. The team has in fact historically been a great platform for female drivers, with Hannah Grisham, Sarah Montgomery and Loni Unser being series regulars in 2022. “I’ve raced against and as teammates with Loni [Unser] and Hannah [Grisham],” Cook added. The three drivers were in fact teammates at the 2021 Daytona round of the Mazda MX-5 Cup. “And I have known Sarah [Montgomery] since the first days when we were both trying to get into racing cars. They’re all amazing women and I’m so excited to share the car with Loni and have Hannah and Sarah as teammates.” "Sabré is a very talented racer and a wonderful ambassador for women in motorsport", added Round 3 Racing owner Brad McCall. "I have been a fan of hers for many years, watching her compete in different series. Not only will she be a great teammate to Loni and Zack, but she's going to fit right in with the family culture at R3R." A driver/engineer, Cook spent the last year coaching and working trackside - including outings with Paretta Autosport in IndyCar, where she was performance engineer on Simona de Silvestro's car. Now cleared to race, Sabré Cook is eager to return behind the wheel and will start her adventure with Round 3 Racing on October 28-30th for a eight-hour double-header at Sebring International Raceway.