ADVAN Neova Cup Competitor’s profile: Stephen

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Name: Stephen Reed

What you do for a living :
Electrical Breakdowns Engineer, I investigate and coordinate the response and repairs to outages and failed equipment on Sydney's electricity network.

What’s the story behind your car :
I wanted something that was powerful and fun to drive but could also bundle a group of friends and their snowboards into for weekends away. That to me meant getting a Hot Hatchback and the Mazda3 MPS just struck the perfect balance between value for money, build quality, personality, performance and practicality.

Why did you choose the Advan Neova tire, what do you like about them most :
bought the Neova's because I wanted to go as fast as I could at the track without having to buy a second set of wheels/tyres. It's easy to say the 2-3 second faster lap times over my previous tyres are the best part about them but having all that extra grip is great on the road as well, it gives you a lot of confidence especially in the wet.

Current car mods :
Only basic power mods, Cold air Intake, Dump Pipe and Tune. I've also fitted a stiffer rear swaybar and that improved cornering considerably.

Future mods:
I love the car the way it is right now if i'm honest. Going any further will mean sacrificing practicality and/or daily comfort and that's a line I don't really want to cross. Depending on how competitive this Neova cup ends up getting, I might get a firmer suspension kit that has camber and caster adjustments, maybe some better brake rotors when the OEM ones wear out but for now, I am happy with how the car goes. My ham fisted driving style would probably benefit from modifications most of all.

Current PB time :
Officially, 1:14.7, I have gone quicker but only official times count.

Target time :
I think a 1:13.0 would be possible at Wakefield Park with my current setup, I am still quite new to track days so am hoping to see some gradual improvement in my driving.
What do you think the secret is to getting a good lap time : A good driver who understands his car and good tyres first and foremost, good engineering, more power and handling will get you small gains too but only if the driver and tyres are up to scratch.

A message to keen competitors who would like to join in :
The Neova cup is a fantastic way to add a competitive element to your track days without taking things too seriously. It's set up to provide a level playing field and I can't wait to see how the leaderboard develops over time.

To Log your fastest times click here: www.advanneovacup.com
Remember you don’t need a race car and you don’t need a race suit, all you need is a set of Advan Neova Tires and a street registered car.