Louise Cook has been overwhelmed at the support shown as she bids to save her rally career.

The World Rally driver from Maidstone – one of two women in the championship – put her trophies on eBay this week to raise funds to compete in New Zealand. She flies on Friday hoping the sale and publicity raises the £18,000 to get to the start line.

A failure to do so would be devastating.

Cook (pictured) said: "I have to make it happen and I’ll get a £16,000 fine if I don’t turn up. If I can’t pay the fine, I’ll be excluded from the championship and have my rally licence revoked."

She would then be barred from the next three events, each incurring a fine.

"I am not in a position to pay the one fine, let alone £60,000," she said. "I started the bidding on the trophies at £99, which I thought was steep and the response has been quite incredible."

Her trophies were selling for £1,100 on Thursday morning.

"The support has been pretty amazing and I’ve been overwhelmed," she added.

Cook needs £8,000 just to rent the car and mechanics in New Zealand.

She said: "It was going to be hard because this year we need to find around £100,000. That compares to £38,000 last season in the British Championship."