Well i've done a bit of reading on this, essentially it is his choice on how far he can go. With your knowledge of contour upgrades (what really effects our cars and what helps little) I think you can build a pretty damn competitive car, but certainly not a top runner. Certainly driver capability is a huge factor. If I were you I would be greatly worried about the acura integras and bmw 330s. There are a few others that will make for interesting competition, but I think there are a few cars that can gain an edge simply on being more responsive to modifications, and their greater aftermarket.
