Rally car stolen at Chepstow racecourse recovered in Newport (From South Wales Argus)

Rally car stolen at Chepstow racecourse recovered in Newport

12:20pm Wednesday 13th February 2013 in News

A RALLY driver has spoken of his disappointment after his £65,000 car was stolen hours before he was due to join a Forest of Dean motorsport competition.

Andy Hockridge, 37, was hoping to take part in the Wyedean Rally with his Citroen C2 on Saturday but it was taken from Chepstow Racecourse.

Mr Hockridge came second in the UK Citroen Racing Cup the year he bought the 160mph rally car in 2009.

Police recovered the car in Newport on Monday after an anonymous tip-off.

Mr Hockridge, of Pwllheli, Gwynedd, north Wales, said: "We're gutted we were not able to compete in the race and we're extremely annoyed somebody pinched the car.

"We're waiting to see how much damage has been done and we'll go from there."

Mr Hockridge is hoping to participate in the Malcolm Wilson Rally in Scotland with the Citroen on March 2.

He and his co-pilot Aled Edwards, 22, are part of a four-car team run by Geoff Jones Motorsport, whose teammate Neville Jones won the Welsh Clubman Championship rally in 2010.

Police said on Wednesday the car had been recovered adding no arrests had been made.