UNEXPECTED pals Jeremy Clarkson and Ronan Keating are set to go head-to-head at Mondello Park in the near future.

The Herald can reveal the Top Gear presenter and the Boyzone star set themselves the daredevil challenge of racing at the Kildare driving circuit after the singer appeared in Clarkson's new DVD, Duel.

The scenes, which were shot last August, see Clarkson take on Ronan, along with newsreader Kate Silverton and rugby player Matt Dawson, all of whom stepped up to an off-road challenge.

During filming, dad-of-three Ronan got more than he bargained for when the back windows of the jeep he was driving shattered into pieces.

"Look at me, I'm flying. I just smashed the back window," he said.

Clarkson went on to explain how Duel also features a terrible accident with a Morris Marina and a piano and jokes that "everything else explodes, including Ronan Keating".

As a result, Clarkson promised Ronan a rematch when he and his television co-stars James May and Richard Hammond returned to Dublin this weekend with their Live show at the RDS.

However, Ronan will not be here to take up the challenge, as he and remaining Boyzone members, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Mikey Graham have just returned to work following the tragic death of their bandmate, Stephen Gately. The group recorded their first single without their late pal earlier this week, with Ronan describing it as a "tough and emotional day".

"Ronan and Jeremy are hoping to arrange something and get to Mondello for a day soon," said a source.

"They're actually quite friendly with one another, they meet regularly at different events and Ronan was delighted to take him up on the offer of taking part in the DVD. He's also eager to take on Jeremy in a rematch, as soon as they can find a time that suits them both.

"Jeremy was hoping they might be able to plan something when he was over in Dublin for the Live tour but they couldn't co-ordinate times at all," they added.

The group are said to have particularly hit it off last year when Top Gear raced from Switzerland to Blackpool in Britain in order to turn on the Christmas lights, with Boyzone performing live at the event.

Speaking about the newly released DVD, Clarkson explained that he had thoroughly enjoyed working with Ronan, but admitted the singer wouldn't be leaving Boyzone to join the Top Gear crew anytime soon.

"It's just my DVD, the other two aren't in it. I like to think of it as a contribution to my kitchen extension. Yes, he [Ronan] is in it. He was great to work with. I think he'll be staying with Boyzone though. "I don't really like to talk about the DVD too much," he added.

lnolan@herald.ie

- Lorna Nolan