By Amanda Little

Last updated 13:41, Tuesday, 26 August 2008

BOYZONE star Shane Lynch swapped his microphone for pace notes to help Cumbrian rally driver William Stobart win the Pendragon Stages Rally.

Rally good: Shane Lynch. Below: The winning car in action

Shane, who was performing at Carlisle Live in Bitts Park on Saturday night, was asked to navigate in Sunday’s rally after William’s co-driver had teamed up with another competitor.

The Irish pop star is a keen rally driver himself and he made a winning debut in the Pendragon Stages Rally as he and William led from start to finish in their Ford Focus world rally car.

William, 43, who is chief operating officer for the Stobart Group, continued his domination of the 65-mile tarmac event with his fourth victory in five years.

And Shane ended up being mobbed by fans when the rally reached Penrith town centre.

William said: “Every time we clocked in at a stage, people wanted his autograph, and he was surrounded by girls in Penrith. He was like a magnet!

“It was great fun and he had a really good time so he’s keen to do it again.

“The navigator I have went to drive for someone else. Boyzone were obviously performing at Carlisle Live and I know Shane does a lot of rallying so I approached his manager.

“We had a test at Carlisle Airport which we came through, and it was great to win.”

The event, which covers 65 miles including stages on the Warcop army ranges, near Appleby, and Lowther Park, attracted a capacity 115 cars, including many Cumbrian crews.