Originally Posted by
onemanband
There is no scenario where an engine with a flatter curve will not be better. But I still believe that with more optimized gearing in the more technical sections the driver can make a big part of the deficit up with his driving, setup, accurate gear changes etc. But if it is a fast rally where the drivers will be in top gear nearing the limiter for long amounts of time then there is absolutely nothing the driver can do.
For your S2000 point i think the best season to look at would be 2012 with Ogier in the Škoda Fabia. I had a quick look at EWRC-Results. His average speed was 1,9 lower in Greece and 1.73 in Finland than the leader. Not a massive difference. And the loss is not only from the lack of engine power for the S2000. As a counterpoint I would point to the ERC or national level in the S2000 or early R5 era where the N group cars could hang on with the much more nimble opponents on fast rallies like Estonia thanks to their superior top speed.