Following a difficult start to the season CMS had to take a slightly unconventional approach to the race weekend at Snetterton.

Hefty damage bills have stretched the limited budget currently available to the team so fresh tyres – crucial for a good result - were not an option for this event. The best scenario was to use the weekend more as a test session and take advantage of much needed track time. The plan worked and Nick Leason and CMS finished the weekend feeling satisfied and very excited about the remaining events.

Race 1 saw Nick start alongside Dave Pinkney at the back of the grid. The start was the boost that the team has worked so hard to see – Nick moved up into 6th place by the time the pack reached the second corner. The car was handling better than ever.

The changes that had been made to the car following the test session on Friday and the qualifying sessions on Saturday proved to be in the right direction and allowed Nick to give a glimpse of his true capabilities. Arriving at the Esses, Nick got tapped from the rear which pushed him wide and he lost a place. On the way into the Bombhole Nick let Dave Pinkney through knowing that he would only be holding him up with the low grip level from the old tyres. Nick followed Pinkney through to Corum and on the exit the car in front of Pinkney lost control.

Trying to avoid the incident Pinkney took to the grass. Nick braked and received a heavy impact from the rear sending him into a big spin. Although Nick got going again it was going to be a struggle to get the car home. Finishing eleventh from fourteenth was not bad.

Race 2: Having rectified the damage sustained in race 1, the team decided to use this race to gain information on suspension settings. Leason struggled from the start with rear end grip because of the condition of the tyres.

Following a couple of pitstops, the car made it to the chequered flag having provided the team with some valuable information from the different suspension settings used throughout the race.

The team has achieved a great deal this weekend although not immediately apparent to onlookers. They had two race finishes, with Nick finishing in the points in race 1, and have made a huge step forward toward finding a good baseline set up for the car. Things can only get better from here.

They will work hard to secure the extra funding that will be essential to see them reach Knockhill with new tyres which will then enable them to give a true reflection of just how far they have come.