Motorsport: Stolen rally car returned

A stolen Subaru WRC car has been returned to Rally New Zealand after its insurance company paid a reward for the car's recovery.

The $55,000 car was stolen from outside the organisation's Auckland headquarters last Friday when general manager Gary Upson and other staff were loading it with gear to bring to Rotorua for this weekend's Parker Enzed International Rally of Rotorua.

It was found in Auckland.

"The insurance company told me they'd paid a reward (to get the car back) provided the thief was not the person receiving the reward," Upson said.

"We are very pleased to have it back. We took it to Subaru yesterday afternoon and had a full diagnostic check done and the engine was fine."

Upson said the car's signwriting had been stripped from the outside and some items in the car were also missing, including two fully kitted out mannequins from Chicane Clothing.

"I never thought at this late stage that we'd see it back," Upson said.

"I'm surprised at the way that it happened to get it back but at the end of the day, I'm happy to have it back. It's a very sought-after vehicle."

The Parker Enzed International Rally of Rotorua, a round of this year's Asia Pacific Championships, officially starts at lunchtime on Friday.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)