Gawaine Clark, who builds and maintains rally cars, said it was the car he won his own first rally in and that he had probably over the years spent about £40,000 on it, although its present value was about £15,000.


The car a blue Subaru, reg K555 LMS with writing all over it, was stolen overnight Monday/Tuesday 24/25. The thieves drove it over a ploughed field to get out in order to circumvent locked gates.


Mr Clark thinks the thieves specifically targeted the car, which was last in action at a rally in Aldershot two weeks ago.


"I think it was stolen specifically as a rally car," he said. "They've also broken into a couple of other workshops with lots of tools in them but they haven't taken anything.


"It's got about eight years of my life in it. I won my first rally in it and we also hire it out so it's taken away some of my livelihood too."


Police are appealing for any information about the theft. Please call Market Rasen Police on 01673 842212 or Crimestoppers on 0800555111.