15 August 2002: Drogheda's Paul Dagg added to his tally of Formula Ford points with victory in the seventh round of the Ford of Ireland Zetec Championship at Mondello Park on Sunday, the HB Dennis Mygale SJ00 driver inheriting a comfortable lead after earlier leaders, Charlie Donnelly (Naas) and Alan Dwyer (Glanmire) touched at Dunlop corner and were forced into retirement.

Dwyer claimed pole position during morning qualifying in his Dwyer Engineering Van Diemen RF01 from Donnelly, with Dagg and George McAlpin (Portrush) occupying the second row.

Eight cars started the 15-lap race and as the lights flicked green, young Donnelly made the best getaway with Dwyer and McAlpin slotting in behind. For the first four laps, it was tantalisingly close at the front until McAlpin's Ramore/Coast Mygale SJ02 hit the back of Dwyer's car and retired to the pits with a damaged nosecone.

This moved Dagg up to third behind the duelling Donnelly and Dwyer with John Gunning (Dublin) and Mark Sheahan next up from Shane Dalgetty (Kildangan) and sole female racer, Cindy Evans (Dublin).

At the front Dwyer was looking for a way by Donnelly but on the eighth lap, the Cork driver ran into the back of Donnelly's Van Diemen RF00 at Dunlop. The collision was hard enough to sideline both drivers immediately and Dagg sailed into the lead. Gunning and Sheahan had a close battle as they moved up to second and third places albeit a long way behind Dagg.

The laps ran out with Dagg taking the chequered flag a country mile clear of Gunning and Sheahan. Further back, Dalgetty took fourth place from Evans, who was last of the finishers, some 52 seconds behind the leaders.

The eighth and ninth rounds of the Ford of Ireland Zetec Championship return to International Circuit at Mondello Park for a double-header on August 24/25 when Dwyer and Donnelly will be intent on turning the tables on Dagg. Paul has a comfortable lead in the series with 84 points over Dwyer (63) and Donnelly (54), while McAlpin is in fourth place with 44 points.