RALLY driver Scott Partridge will be heading back to the sun after finding the right ingredient at the Wales Rally GB.

Partridge joined forces with his former co-driver Chris Ridge, from Ludlow, in a Subaru Impreza to finish 25th overall in north Wales.

The born-and-bred Herefordian called up Ridge at the 11th hour after his regular co-driver, Alex Lee, had been involved in an accident the previous week.

But racing in a former World Rally Championship car once driven by Alister McRae, is a far cry from Partridge’s other passion.

He works as a chef on a yacht owned by NCP car park tycoon Sir Donald Gosling and has served guests including Prince Charles, George Lucas, Cheryl Cole and Michael Caine.

He is due back in Antigua, in the Caribbean, in early December.

“I am contracted to Sheik Mohamed who he has a new 60-metre super yacht in the making and, previously, I was his head chef for four years,” said Partridge, who has a home in Hereford.

“I will be joining the new boat when it's launched in 2015 as the head chef.

“But I miss Hereford when I'm away for months at a time and I always look forward to coming home and I am a big follower of Hereford United.”

Partridge was delighted to squeeze in the GB Wales Rally - 12 months ago Partridge was lucky to escape unharmed after crashing out on the first day at 100mph.

“This year’s stages hadn't been used for a long time and were the best I have ever rallied on.

“We managed a nice solid result, bought the car home in one piece and were very happy because many other crews either crashed on the slippery stages or had mechanical issues.”

He added: “It was like Chris never been out of the car and we gelled straight away,” said Partridge.

“My favourite stage was Penllyn which was only a short 4 or 5 mile stage but it was incredibly fast.

“We were in 5th gear at 115 mph down a tree lined gravel road. Looking back, it was madness – 80 to 90mph on a motorway seems fast enough.

“I first entered the Wales Rally GB in 2011 with Ridge and we came 26th overall.

“My passion is 50% food and 50% rallying. You can have more experiences in just 10 minutes in a rally car than for the whole of 12 months put together.

He thanked Bullet Polish Europe, Muscat Yachting and Mad About Pies for supporting their race.

Partridge, who once met Formula One racing driver David Coulthard in Saxtys, has a passion for food, which stems back to his teenage years.

The former Aylestone School did his training at Herefordshire College of Technology.

He has worked at the Merton Hotel, Green Man, Bunch of Carrots and at Phil Vickery’s Broadway-based Lygon Michelin star restaurant.

He splits his time between living in Hereford and working as chef on a luxury yacht.

“I am pretty good at curries but pâtisseries are my main thing.

“I miss Hereford and miss the UK seasons – when you are abroad you are always chasing the sun.

“I have been with my girlfriend Gemma for 11 years but, because I am away a lot, we don't get much time to see each other.

“She works on a yacht called Cyan and we bump into each other in the Caribbean.”

He added: “I love travelling and I love the lifestyle and it can be nice having a day off and spending it in Monaco.

“We have had The Black Eyed Peas and Cheryl Cole come on board. They sang for us, which was fun.”