Maybe it was just bad drivers but every time I have been to an autox race, the FWD cars do better than the RWD. Its almost as if FWD gives you better control over the car and there for gives you better times. What do you all think?

 

I'm more experienced with FWD so I prefer it in tight spaces. It's easier to drag on the e-brake to get the car to tuck around corners, rather than trying to shuffle the rear end of a RWD car around with power.

 

AWD would be even better.

 

FWD is the worst of all options. It does help conceal poor driving better than RWD, but other than that all things being equal you don't want the tires doing 80+% of your turning and braking also doing your acceleration. There are some very good FWD autox cars, the Mini and some Civics for example, but it's a crap day if those are putting down the fast times of the day.

 

It's a fair point. Then again, it depends on how tight the course is.

 

It depends on the Autox course, but on a rally course (Tarmac) FWD is always faster than AWD and RWD.



This was evident (and funny) in 1999 Catalunya when the FIA allowed F2 to steal points from WRC: http://www.rallye-info.com/event_results.asp?event=290



The WRC drivers were fuming!



Xsara F2:





Beautiful car!! Note that the Hyundai F2's retired from this race with problems (fuel pump on one car, clutch on the other).

 

it's no wonder-... the car in the bottom pic doubles as a helicopter!