Biggest tip always: eyes up, eyes up, eyes up. Vision and looking further ahead is the quickest way to get quick. You should be aware of the subsequent turns before you apex your current one.
For track day virgins, I'd wouldn't recommend any timers as you need to spend the time getting...
What's your expectation of speed? Type-R will be the faster car no ways around it, mod-for-mod. To get the Si to Type-R power levels you'd theoretically have more cooling problems on track due to a higher power to cooling capacity than the Type-R.
Not the answer you are looking for, but IMO, in...