A BOYS OWN DREAM DEBUT FOR EX-BOYZONE STAR
Discussion
Former Boyzone singer Shane Lynch made a winning start in his first ever Dunlop Sport MAXX Cup races, twice coming top in his class behind the wheel of his SEAT Leon FR. Since giving up pop stardom, the Irishman has turned his hand to motor racing and his latest success came at the famous Donington Park motor racing circuit, as part of the Great & British Dunlop Motorsport Festival. Other class winners included Martin Wallbank of Horley in his Vauxhall Astra VXR and Glastonbury’s Paul Lund, who drove an Alfa Romeo 147.
There was also double celebration for Chorley’s Gavin Bristow as he took the honours in the Mini Challenge, guiding his Cooper S to victory in both races however two podium places for Scotland’s Oly Mortimer means he still leads the series. In the Club class category of the championship, Gary Kounnis of Essex won race one while Ireland’s Jenny Ryan won race two.
It was action all the way in the Dunlop Radical Biduro championship, Toby Newton of Grendon Underwood winning the first race of the day but he couldn’t repeat the feat in race two, Barnsley’s John Hewitt taking the chequered flag this time in one of the most thrilling races of the campaign. In the Le Mans-style Dunlop Radical Enduro championship, Derek Johnston partnered Stuart Moseley to victory in race one and they repeated the feat in race two, just nine tenths of a second ahead of series leaders Richard Ince and Austin Kinsella at the end of forty-five minutes of adrenaline fuelled racing. Both crews were in Radical SR8 sports cars while the top SR3 drivers were James Harrison of Chepstow in race one and Phil Bailey and Bradley Ellis in race two.
The youngsters also put on a show, Dominic Pettit of Cambridge winning the first PlayStation Ginetta GT Junior Championship race of the day with race two going to Oundle’s James Jefferson, his first ever win for fourteen to sixteen year old racing drivers.
Other winners on the day included Andrew Deviny in the Dunlop Mini Se7en championship, Durham’s Peter Daglish who won both BARC Westfield Sportscar championship races and Endaf Owens from Carmarthen in the only Dunlop Mini Miglia championship race of the day.
Highlights of the weekend’s racing will be broadcast on Sky Sports and Motors TV
There was also double celebration for Chorley’s Gavin Bristow as he took the honours in the Mini Challenge, guiding his Cooper S to victory in both races however two podium places for Scotland’s Oly Mortimer means he still leads the series. In the Club class category of the championship, Gary Kounnis of Essex won race one while Ireland’s Jenny Ryan won race two.
It was action all the way in the Dunlop Radical Biduro championship, Toby Newton of Grendon Underwood winning the first race of the day but he couldn’t repeat the feat in race two, Barnsley’s John Hewitt taking the chequered flag this time in one of the most thrilling races of the campaign. In the Le Mans-style Dunlop Radical Enduro championship, Derek Johnston partnered Stuart Moseley to victory in race one and they repeated the feat in race two, just nine tenths of a second ahead of series leaders Richard Ince and Austin Kinsella at the end of forty-five minutes of adrenaline fuelled racing. Both crews were in Radical SR8 sports cars while the top SR3 drivers were James Harrison of Chepstow in race one and Phil Bailey and Bradley Ellis in race two.
The youngsters also put on a show, Dominic Pettit of Cambridge winning the first PlayStation Ginetta GT Junior Championship race of the day with race two going to Oundle’s James Jefferson, his first ever win for fourteen to sixteen year old racing drivers.
Other winners on the day included Andrew Deviny in the Dunlop Mini Se7en championship, Durham’s Peter Daglish who won both BARC Westfield Sportscar championship races and Endaf Owens from Carmarthen in the only Dunlop Mini Miglia championship race of the day.
Highlights of the weekend’s racing will be broadcast on Sky Sports and Motors TV
Went to Donington yesterday to enjoy the racing and the sunshine. First time i had seen the Sport MAXX series and have to admit to not being particularly impressed. Whilst i think the concept is a good one it was difficult to know which car was in which class. I appreciate the series is in its 1st year but it didn't seem to be particularly well supported either which is a shame as it has the makings of providing close racing throughout the classes.
The mini challenge was a good race although the race had to be red flagged as two of the copper S' ended up in the wall opposite me at the top of the craner curves. They both hit the wall very hard and it was at a part of the circuit where no tyre walls are in place. One of the cars hit so hard it appeared that the engine had tried to do a runner from the rest of the car. I dont recall who the drivers were (my sunstrokes kicked in!!) but i hope they are both ok?
The mini challenge was a good race although the race had to be red flagged as two of the copper S' ended up in the wall opposite me at the top of the craner curves. They both hit the wall very hard and it was at a part of the circuit where no tyre walls are in place. One of the cars hit so hard it appeared that the engine had tried to do a runner from the rest of the car. I dont recall who the drivers were (my sunstrokes kicked in!!) but i hope they are both ok?
The Dunlop Sport MAXX cup is quite boring at the moment. Don't forget it is only in its inaugural year. Hopefully for 2008 there will be a lot more cars on the grid. I think there were a couple of additions present at Donington.
The MINI Challenge drivers involved were Peter Budd (#2) whos engine decided to get a divorce from the car. The other driver was Lee Pattison (#11) who got out of the car ok but then went out cold. Lee came round but didn't know who he was or where he was etc so was taken to hospital for a check up. He was back at the circuit a few hours later though, feeling rather groggy though.
Budds car is totally destroyed in my opinion. Not much salvagable. Pattisons needs a reshell.
The MINI Challenge drivers involved were Peter Budd (#2) whos engine decided to get a divorce from the car. The other driver was Lee Pattison (#11) who got out of the car ok but then went out cold. Lee came round but didn't know who he was or where he was etc so was taken to hospital for a check up. He was back at the circuit a few hours later though, feeling rather groggy though.
Budds car is totally destroyed in my opinion. Not much salvagable. Pattisons needs a reshell.
Edited by *Kosta* on Monday 6th August 15:40
quite pleased for shane, he proved he was no slouch in British GTs but its still a shame he is "Shane Lynch Ex Boyzone etc" not just Shane Lynch the racing driver....
It was my impression that the Sport Maxx was meant to be a budget motorsport series but budget must mean something different to me!....
It was my impression that the Sport Maxx was meant to be a budget motorsport series but budget must mean something different to me!....
Chassis 33 said:
newsbeef said:
Former Boyzone singer Shane Lynch made a winning start in his first ever Dunlop Sport MAXX Cup races, twice coming top in his class behind the wheel of his SEAT Leon FR.
Probably because there weren't any pesky Marcos' getting in the way...
Regards
Iain
R1 GTR said:
Chassis 33 said:
newsbeef said:
Former Boyzone singer Shane Lynch made a winning start in his first ever Dunlop Sport MAXX Cup races, twice coming top in his class behind the wheel of his SEAT Leon FR.
Probably because there weren't any pesky Marcos' getting in the way...Regards
Iain
The worst part of the crash was that if we hadn't lent the Marcos team some parts they wouldn't even have started the race...
Chassis 33 said:
Wasn't the irony completed by the fact the TVR had one of Shorty's Rollcentre cages in?
Regards
Iain
He certainly designed it, though I can't remember whether he built that particular one.Regards
Iain
The old girl is scheduled to reappear later this year - we have an engine in build at the moment. Britcar winter series here we come...
Edited by Ahonen on Monday 6th August 19:04
Ahonen said:
Yes, he's probably been racing for longer than his pop career lasted and is actually a damn fine pedaler.
Shane spent years in rallying before he started racing, his co-driver is an old friend of mine (i gave him his first overalls and helmet as a keen 17 year old for £10 if i remember correctly. 
)johnfelstead said:
Shane spent years in rallying before he started racing, his co-driver is an old friend of mine (i gave him his first overalls and helmet as a keen 17 year old for £10 if i remember correctly. )
Yes, he rallied a Ford Ka for a while, I remember. He also trained as a mechanic before the pop thing got going (his dad Brendan has a garage, if I remember rightly), so he's not too shabby with spanners. )It was great to have him back in the car at the Silverstone 24-hour last year - even though he spent most of the fog-bound safety car period either singing or telling terrible jokes over the radio.
As an endurance driver he's a valuable asset to any team: quick, safe, mechanically sympathetic and never gets over-excited.
RSTurbo - yes, I think he is still doing the drifting thing.
We were hoping that Shane would take to the oval at Rockingham, but after his first day of Rookie Training, he decided it wasn't for him.
It's a shame that he didn't get behind the wheel of an ASCAR, as he would have enjoyed it. The two seater ride shook most people up, and I think this put him off. It's a little "different" sitting six inches away from a concrete wall at 150+ in the passenger seat of the 2-seat ASCAR, plus you have 120dB of V8 in your earhole with there being no "passenger" window to keep some of it out.
There is a rookie training day this coming Saturday, 850+VAT, contact Duane @ revolutionracing.co.uk for details.
Maybe Shane will have another go some time in the future.
Rob.
It's a shame that he didn't get behind the wheel of an ASCAR, as he would have enjoyed it. The two seater ride shook most people up, and I think this put him off. It's a little "different" sitting six inches away from a concrete wall at 150+ in the passenger seat of the 2-seat ASCAR, plus you have 120dB of V8 in your earhole with there being no "passenger" window to keep some of it out.
There is a rookie training day this coming Saturday, 850+VAT, contact Duane @ revolutionracing.co.uk for details.
Maybe Shane will have another go some time in the future.
Rob.
Ahonen said:
Chassis 33 said:
Wasn't the irony completed by the fact the TVR had one of Shorty's Rollcentre cages in?
Regards
Iain
He certainly designed it, though I can't remember whether he built that particular one.Regards
Iain
The old girl is scheduled to reappear later this year - we have an engine in build at the moment. Britcar winter series here we come...
Edited by Ahonen on Monday 6th August 19:04
Chassis 33 said:
newsbeef said:
Former Boyzone singer Shane Lynch made a winning start in his first ever Dunlop Sport MAXX Cup races, twice coming top in his class behind the wheel of his SEAT Leon FR.
Probably because there weren't any pesky Marcos' getting in the way...Regards
Iain
williamp said:
Ahonen said:
Chassis 33 said:
Wasn't the irony completed by the fact the TVR had one of Shorty's Rollcentre cages in?
Regards
Iain
He certainly designed it, though I can't remember whether he built that particular one.Regards
Iain
The old girl is scheduled to reappear later this year - we have an engine in build at the moment. Britcar winter series here we come...
Edited by Ahonen on Monday 6th August 19:04
RD009 - I can't remember who was in the Marcos, but might have been Alan Bonner. It was just a racing incident; the Marcos spun on the exit of Dingle Dell and came to rest in the middle of the track leading up to Stirlings. Or it seemed to have stopped. Shane had to make a split second left or right decision and went left, just as the Marcos started to roll back onto the outside of the track and into his path.
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