22 April 2002: The wet weather conditions suited Glanmire's Alan Dwyer to a tee as he romped away into the distance in the opening round of the Ford of Ireland Formula Ford Championship at Mondello Park on Sunday.

Runner-up in last year's championship, the 21-year old was back in his Dwyer Engineering Swift and showing he meant business as he claimed pole position with reigning champion, George McAlpin (Portrush), alongside on the front row.

The 12-lap race got underway with Dwyer making the break but McAlpin quickly came back at the Cork driver and took the lead going round Hewlett Packard Corner. John Gunning (Dublin) also made an excellent start from the second row in his new Vector but his run was short-lived as he retired soon after.

By the third lap, Dwyer took McAlpin for the lead, although the restaurateur later claimed the move was made under the yellow flags. From then on Dwyer pulled away from McAlpin as former champion, Paul Dagg (Drogheda) moved through to third place ahead of Derek Daly (Castleknock) and Mike Clyne (Galway).

By the half way stage, Dwyer was streets ahead of the rest, McAlpin in the Coast Mygale SJ02 having had a massive spin dropping him to the back of the field. The pouring rain suited Dwyer, who had the length of the home straight over Dagg and the closely following Daly, Clyne and John Ferguson (Saintfield), the latter becoming the next retirement.

McAlpin was now pushing his way back through the field in the tricky conditions and chasing Stephen Daly (Sallins), who obligingly spun out at the Esses allowing George to take a final fifth placing.

Meanwhile, it was literally plain sailing for Dwyer, who took first blood in the Ford of Ireland series opener to claim maximum points. Dagg settled for second from Derek Daly, Clyne, McAlpin with Stephen Daly and newcomer, Shane Dalgetty (Kildare) completing the order.

©2002irishcar.com