There is definitely more time in it as well as it was a bit of a scruffy lap.

I was running 225/50/16 rear (balloon) tires, which increases the final drive, so you can't really use 3rd gear for the likes of Shell and Brittains chicane as it just bogs down up the hills. I should also be using 4th gear for Cascades and Druids, but again it just feels slow exiting in 4th.

With 225/45/16 rears, using higher gears to carry more speed though the corners, i think a 1:57 is definitely possible. 

Still, I'm please with a 1:58 especially given the Yokohama A052's where 8 years old a heat cycled out.

MR2 2ZZ Spec:

965kg without driver
Engine, ECU & exhaust:
Standard Celica 2zz-ge engine 
Apexi PFC OTS map
Velocity stack CAI intake, with cold air feed to NS scoop
Elise Parts baffled sump
Rogue motorsport 2ZZ header, 200 cel sports cat & custom silencer

Suspension & chassis:
MeisterR ZetaCRD coilovers - 5kg front/7kg rear (16 click from soft front and rear)
Front and rear whiteline ARB's - front full stiff, rear middle setting
Fully braced front, mid and rear
Custom 6 point T45 roll cage
Fully poly bushed
Hardrace spherical rear arms

Wheels & tyres:
FL OE wheels
Yokohama A052 - 205/50/15 front - 225/50/16 rear

Brakes:
OE ABS in place
OE Prius front calipers
OE MR2 rear calipers
OE Pagid discs
Project MU racing 999 pads front and rear
Motul RBF 660 fluid

Geo:
Fully corner weighted, cross weights 49% front - 51% rear
front (each side) camber -4.00/toe out -1mm
rear (each side) camber -3.7/toe in +2mm