Gutted owner takes to skies over £40k car

By [credford]

A UNIQUE top-spec rally car worth £40,000 has been stolen from its shed.

The heavily modified Subaru Impreza, which is covered in decals and logos, was driven through a ditch and then a ploughed field by thieves.

It was being stored at a farm in Holton-cum-Beckering, near Wragby.

The bright blue car has the registration number K555 LMS – and a badly damaged gearbox from its last bout of rallying.

Owner Gawaine Clark (41), from North Hykeham, said he was "gutted" the car had been stolen on either Monday or Tuesday last week.

"I've built that car from the ground up, giving it a total overhaul that took about a year's worth of my life to complete," said Mr Clark, who owns Langworth Motorsports in Langworth, near Lincoln.

"I've invested so much money and time in getting it to the standard I needed it to be. It is a really big part of my life.

"Some people spend all their spare cash on going to the pub but I put mine into my car."

The motor has been modified with £40,000 worth of kit including alterations to its 2,000cc 300bhp turbo-charged engine, alloy wheels, bucket seats and a roll cage.

The racing car's revamp was only completed a month ago and it had competed in just one event.

The gearbox was damaged and has not yet been fixed.

"Whoever took the car drove away with a vehicle that had no third gear, no fifth and which jumps out of second and reverse," said Mr Clark. "Being driven over that field will have caused so much more damage. And if we don't get it back, insurance-wise, we'll only get about half of what it's really worth."

When Mr Clark discovered it was stolen he went to Wickenby Airfield to see if it could be spotted from the air.

Staff took him up in the air for 20 minutes to see if it had been dumped and only charged him for the fuel used on the flight.

No sightings have been reported of the car, which is not intended for regular road use.

Police spokesman Jemma Peacock said: "There was very little fuel in the car so the criminals may have loaded it on to a trailer at some point. At this stage we do not know if it was a random theft or the car has been specifically targeted."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Lincolnshire police on (01522) 882222 quoting incident 124 of November 25.