Toby Davis, 25, who races in Cardiff, had £3000 worth of equipment stolen from his car in Pontcanna.
He was awarded the kit as part of a racing scholarship. Thieves took his helmet, fireproof gloves and boots, suit, spare visors and other personal items such as programmes from his racing career.
He said he left it in his car so he didn’t leave it behind as he went to coach other aspiring racing drivers.
Mr Davis said ‘I was absolutely gutted. It’s not just stuff, it’s sentimental as well. I personalized my helmet design and my mother spent ages sewing badges onto my suit from the sponsors I got last season. There’s work gone in to it more than anything, and someone’s taken that away.’
He has been driving go-karts for ten years and turned to racing cars after he won a scholarship with racing team , Team HARD, last year.
The scholarship gave him money to pay for his race wear and for his racing season which costs on average between £30,000 and £50,000.
Team boss Tony Gilham, who awarded him the scholarship said: “we’ve got a great driver who is no doubt going to go on to do great things this season. He’s quick on track and has the necessary fitness too.”
He decided to try and crowdfund the money needed to replace his equipment after he wrote about it being stolen on Facebook and the post was shared over 50 times.
So far, he has raised more than £300 and the post has been shared more than 500 times.
