Suffolk: Father and daughter team to race in Clacton Rally

John Cooledge and his daughter Laura will compete in the Corbeau Seats Tendring and Clacton Rally.

The Cooledge crew will contest 14 stages over the course of a two-day event, which takes place on closed public roads.

Laura and John have been racing together for the past seven years, with John being the driver, and Laura being the co-driver and navigator.

John and Laura in their Ford Anglia they will be racing in Clacton over the weekend. Credit: Laura Cooledge (Image: Laura Cooledge)

The crew, from Ipswich, have both been involved in motorsport from a young age, with Laura's first race being when she was 16.

Despite working together for many years, this will be the first time the father and daughter team tackle the Clacton stages together.

John has competed in previous years with his wife Louise, while Laura co-drove for her friend, Laura Christmas in 2022.

Driver John said: "The stages are looking good and we'll be doing our best to put on a show in the Ford Anglia."

John and Laura before a race together. Credit: Laura Cooledge (Image: Laura Cooledge)

Laura added: "The Corbeau Seats Tendring and Clacton Rally is my favourite rally, and we are so lucky to have an event like this on our doorstep.

"It will be great to contest this year's event in the Anglia with my dad and see the Essex community out in force to enjoy the rally."

They have thanked their sponsors Lamb & Co, Suffolk Fasteners, Bocking Homes, X-Spurt Tyres, TTV Racing and Signs Express for their support.

Outside of co-driving, Laura is a figurehead for women in motorsport, having created Anglia Motor Sport Club's 'Better Together' initiative, which hopes to get more women involved in the sport.

This initiative helped win Anglia Motor Sport Club an award last year, as they beat 700 competitors to Motorsport UK's Club of the Year 2022.

John is the driver and Laura is the co-driver in the father daughter duo. Credit: Laura Cooledge (Image: Laura Cooledge)