are you running in a modified class? in a stock class with everyone running the same motor you'd be at a severe disadvantage.

adding the weight of aluminum in there without the carbon fiber frame, shock towers... etc. to lighten the frame increases the weight too much. like you said, the corners are where you get beat, you can't turn with as much speed nor accelerate out of them too quickly.

I'd just suggest getting a separate chasis for on road or carpet racing and keep the tt-01 as a basher/drifter.