BAR EFFECT: Stabiliser bars reduce body flex during hard cornering, thereby improving vehicle handling and stability.

JUDGES' CHOICE: Noel Jago's Subaru
WRX STI did not see any action because of oil pressure problems, but was still picked as the third-best dressed race car.

DRIVING BOOST: To improve driving performance, the car is fitted with standard electronic components such as boost gauge, oil temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, water temperature gauge and fuel pressure gauge.

BRAKING EFFECT: Acknowledged by most motor sport enthusiasts as the premiere braking company, AP racing brakes help to shed speed quickly and ensure complete control under the harshest of conditions.

SINGAPORE AT LARGE

THE sky's the limit for motor car fanatics when it comes to shaving off that extra second.

Noel Jago, a telecommunications manager based in Singapore, splurged $110,000 on modifying his six-month-old Subaru WRX STI, which cost only $104,000.

It was supposed to make its debut at the MPT Super Time Attack last Monday, but due to some oil pressure problems, the blue beauty did not make it to the starting grid.

Still, the awesome machine made it to the podium as the third-best dressed-up race car.

"I didn't want to blow the engine, so I was reduced to a spectator," said the 36-year-old Tasmanian.

"After all, I spent so much money on the car. I can do that because I don't have a wife to nag at me!"

He did not have the breakdown of the costs, but here's some of his car's features.

Advanced electronic control parts:
To improve driving performance, the car is fitted with standard electronic components such as boost gauge, oil temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, water temperature gauge and fuel pressure gauge.

Bride Super Seats:
One of the top car seat brands in the market. Using cutting edge technology,Bride car seats are subjected to crash tests to conform to the safety standard of circuit racing.

HKS Legamax and Sport Exhaust System:
Using a special muffler design, the HKS Legamax exhaust system maintains low-end torque while maximising high-end horsepower.

AP racing brakes:
Acknowledged by most motor sport enthusiasts as the premiere braking company, AP racing brakes help to shed speed quickly and ensure complete control under the harshest of conditions.

HKS Hipermax Pro suspension kit:
A must-have for circuit racing, the lightweight cylinder case delivers excellent road holding performance.

HKS F-Conv Pro advanced engine management system: A self-contained custom built computer which controls the running of an engine by monitoring the engine speed, load and temperature.

Stabiliser Bars:
It reduces body flex during hard cornering, thereby improving vehicle handling and stability.

Accessories:
Jago uses a Bell Racing helmet that cost about $2,000. And after emerging unscathed from a crash in January, Jago is taking no chances.

He invested in a $2,000 Hans neck and head support which protects the neck from snapping in the event of an accident.