FEARLESS Southampton powerboat racer Shelley Jory still managed to win herself a place on the podium despite nursing a broken ankle and her boat breaking down on the start line.

Unbowed by the breakdown, Shelley, who regularly races across water at speeds of over 70mph, fixed the boat on the start line and set off after her competitors, who had already lapped her.

Shelley, 33, who owns Portswood Road's Brides of Southampton shop, managed to make her way back up the field of five and eventually posted a remarkable second place.

The only woman racer in the series, Shelley had driven through the night to take her brand new £30,000 V8 boat Winging It Offshore to Ramsgate for the first race of the V24 One Design powerboat season.

Shelley, who drives the boat alongside marine mechanic navigator Gavin Brown, 29, of Locks Heath, said: "The launch of my new baby went well and everything was going swimmingly until the engine decided to go swimming itself on the start line. The engine had malfunctioned and was taking on water. The race started without us, and I didn't think we were going to make it and started undoing my harness but Gavin said no, got straight to the engine and began sorting the problem. He did it and we started a lap behind everyone.

"I just drove like a lunatic and caught them up, then I got past the first three of the boats and came second.

" If we'd had another lap we would have been running level with the leaders."

The drama was all too much for Shelley who collapsed on her return to dry land.

"After the race I was absolutely shattered. When I got out of the boat, due to exhaustion I collapsed and had to lie down for 20 minutes."

But the experience has left Shelley determined to go on beat her male competitors and lift a trophy.

"It was an amazing experience and now I just can't wait to get back out and do more tests for the next race.

"I still can't walk properly after suffering a broken ankle but I know I can drive a powerboat.

"It's definitely possible I can win the series but I'll have to drive like a madwoman to beat some very talented male drivers."