Denning Stars at Bishopscourt as Peterson’s Fiesta ST Title Bid gains Momentum

Driving his brother Alex’s title winning car, and with Alex on the spanners, Darragh Denning made his 2022 debut when the Coffee 2 Go Fiesta Championship visited the high speed Bishopscourt circuit recently, and made his intentions clear from the off, by going fastest in the official practise session on Saturday morning. He may have had a margin to the rest on that occasion but it was closer in qualifying, to say the least. Denning did manage to clinch the all important pole but series leader Eddie Peterson in his Petersons- Cars Like New liveried machine  was less than a tenth away in second. Michael Cullen was next up ahead of the impressive duo of Darragh McMullen and Max Turley, who had pushed Dave Maguire’s Insuremycars.ie car down to an unaccustomed sixth.

Denning made no mistakes to lead race one away and eased away to take the flag just under two seconds ahead of Peterson, with McMullen completing the podium in third. Michael Cullen was next up, ahead of Beacon Hospital team mate Victor Cullen and Maguire, with Gordon Kellett and Chris Jones in eighth and ninth respectively.
As ever, the top six were reversed for race two, which had to be red flagged when McMullen went off at the first chicane at high speed. Thankfully he was ok, but the car was unable to make the subsequent restart. Max Turley, who had been bang on the pace all weekend made his way into the lead and it looked as if he might take his first win. A challenge from Michael Cullen though, saw them collide and both went off the track. Cullen was out on the spot but Turley somehow managed to collect a massive slide and rejoined the circuit. At the flag, it was Peterson who took the win, from Denning with Turley recovering to third, and claiming fastest lap in the progress. Maguire took a healthy portion of points in fourth, from Victor Cullen, Gordon Kellett, Chris Jones and Simon Deane, whose car had been quickly patched up to make the grid after an off in the opening race, a ten second penalty for an incorrect grid position dropping him back.

The Coffee 2 Go Fiesta ST Championship returns to Mondello Park on June 11/12 where they will compete on the International Circuit for the first time this year.

Action images from Cregor Elliott