THREE wins in just seven days have established Tony Worswick as firm favourite for the 1999 BOSS Formula Championship.

The Blackburn engineer finally broke his duck with the ex-Rubens Barrichello Jordan when he won both races in the Irish Superprix at Mondello Park, Dublin.

And he made it a hat-trick when he stormed home in first place at Silverstone last weekend.

"It was a fantastic feeling to win in the Jordan, and especially in Ireland," said Worswick.

"We seem to have been on the brink of success for so long with this car, now we've won one we can't seem to stop.

"It's a tribute to the effort and the commitment of the team, particularly after last year's crash at Donington, that we are leading the championship. Now we've got to stay there."

At Dublin's Mondello Park, Worswick took the laurels in both 10-lap heats after beating the reigning champion Nigel Greensall (Tyrell 002) and Ron Cumming (Footwork-Judd).

And at Silverstone, he was in a class of his own after Greensall's engine blew up. Three-times holder of the outright lap record on the Grand Prix circuit, Worswick built up a huge lead over Paul Stoddart before a rapidly-emptying fuel tank forced him to slow down to make it to the chequered flag.

Billed as Britain's fastest single seater championship, this year's BOSS Formula boasts a 20-car grid lined with ex-Formula One and F3000 machines.

In a real 'David and Goliath' battle the privateer Worswick Engineering team - supporters of the Marie Curie Cancer Care charity - have found themselves up against the big-budget European Aviation team.

Led by owner Paul Stoddart, European Aviation - who also sponsor the series - boast four Tyrrell 002s together with 27 full time staff.

"Keeping up with their level of competitiveness is difficult. We're never short of commitment, it's just the money," explained Worswick.

"To be fair, it's a very friendly championship, and the European Aviation guys were the first to shake my hand on the podium."

The results mean Worswick now has a firm grasp of the championship, with only three rounds run.

He said: "There's a long way to go yet, but even if Greensall wins all the remaining races and I finish second, I'll be champion."

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