What a weekend for Shane? On Thursday he was eating in one of his favourite restaurants in the new Cardiff dock-lands before enjoying the craic in Cardiff's largest night-club. The Cardiff stopover was so that Shane could do Media interviews on his way to rounds 2 + 3 of the Pentel Ginetta Race Championship.

Friday afternoon was for testing on the SW Wales circuit, and Shane was setting some good times. In fact, very good times, as the team knew that his Ginetta was in need of an overhaul and engine rebuild, Shane had about 10-15% less power than the leading cars.

Motor Racing is dangerous and Shane takes it seriously, so there's no drinking alcohol the night before and it was an early night. On Saturday morning Shane qualified in 6th place for the afternoons race. A few hardy Boyzone fans had made the journey and were rewarded with autographs and a chat with the black race-suit clad Mr Lynch.

The race was in it's second lap, Shane was 5th and moving for 4th when, as he approached a hairpin bend, braking from over 110mph, another competitor moved towards him. Shane had to ease the braking and steer away, and a split second later he started to brake again, but the wheels locked, the Ginetta skidded, smashed into another car, and took both off the circuit onto the grass. At the subsequent enquiry no blame was apportioned, it was just a racing incident, but it was the end of the race.

When the wreck returned to the paddock on a recovery vehicle, it looked like it might be the end of the weekend - the damage was considerable. But Shanno wanted to make every attempt to race on the next day. Another competitor came to the rescue, offering the use of his garage, welding gear and expertise to fix the car. The wreck was put on a trailer and Shane, his mate Chris with "yours truly" driving the tow vehicle, headed into the depths of mid Wales to a place called "Pontrhydfendigaid" Try saying that quickly! Shane, Chris and John Dark (the guy who owned the garage) worked for over 4 hours cutting off bent bits, welding new sections onto the car, and lots of other stuff until the Ginetta ran again. It was half past midnight when Shane got to his Hotel where a bag of fish and chips from the local chippy was waiting.

Sunday was a busy day - Shane's car, although repaired was still a little suspect so he took it easy in qualifying to check that the car was okay, but got a respectable 10th on the grid. The race was a clean one and Shane got eighth place, which was not bad considering the previous days' accident. Most of Shane's time was taken up with those lucky winners an auction on local radio to be driven around the circuit with Shanno.

Believe In Me, it was a tired trio who left the circuit on Sunday afternoon for the drive home, but it had been a good weekend, being used to raise money for "The Phoenix Trust" a charity created by Mark Owen who was paralysed in a motorbike accident. It helps victims of spinal injury and Shane is Patron. Yes, When All Is Said And Done, if Shanno says, I'll Be There, then we just all pull Together which is So Good - Yes a good weekend but it was nice to be leaving the circuit, switch on the phone and say Coming Home Now!

With apologies to Polygram! See Shane racing next at Mallory Park on Sunday May 7th

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