A Limerick man who moved to England to become a motor racing driver was killed in a road crash on Saturday shortly before he was due to travel home for Christmas.
29 year-old Shane Stokes from Lisnagry was driving with his partner on the M40 to his home in Leamington Spa, West Midlands when he was involved in a five-car pile-up in Oxfordshire.
He had planned to travel on Christmas Eve morning to London Heathrow, where he was to fly back to Shannon to spend Christmas with his family.
His partner, Ashley is understood to be in a serious condition in hospital.
A former student at Castletroy College, Shane was based in Rockingham, Northampton where he worked with tour racing driver Rob Austin.
In a Facebook post, the driver said Shane was a good luck charm and had progressed to become a pivotal and much loved member of the team and a true friend.
“He was strong and supportive for us in the tough times, something I will never forget and he was a larger than life character in the BTCC (British Touring Car Championship) paddock who was loved by many. He was without question a special guy who had a heart of gold and will be deeply and sorely missed by our team and many others in the BTCC paddock.
“Our thoughts are with his partner Ashley, his brother Brian and his kind and loving family through this difficult time.
Shane’s father Gerry, a former director of rugby with UL Bohemians, had planned to travel to Shannon Airport with his wife to meet their son and his partner on Christmas Eve.
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