Louise Cook claimed a podium finish during her debut World Rally outing.

The Maidstone racer was taking part in the WRC season opener in Monte Carlo where she excelled in the Production Championship.

Competing on the same stage as stars such as Sebastian Loeb, she was contesting alongside the main event, in a championship run by teams in near-showroom spec four-wheel drive, turbocharged cars with a much reduced budget from the main players.

Cook (pictured), with Maidstone co-driver Stefan Davis, finished 54th overall in their Ford Fiesta ST - some distance behind winner Loeb.

But in the Production class the British Ladies Champion claimed a second place finish ahead of a handful of Mitsubishi Lancers.

The week-long Monte Carlo event finished with a 5.2km run from Sainte Agnes to Col de la Madone on Sunday morning.

An ecstatic Cook tweeted: "Podium in PWRC - Job done. Unreal we knew we had to finish and we did."

Cook and Davis will hope to return to WRC action by competeing in the Acroplis Rally, Greece, in May, if they can get funding.