Since i'm the local FF guy, i can say i disagree a little with your summary. FF aren't bad at all in gravel, sand or dirt. It's a lot easier to get the rear loose, and i can pull it off without much weight shifting (usually with only the steering and throttle). With some tuning (and a nice LSD and tyres) it can be made even better... Well, as long as the drivers has some experience doing this.

Of course i mean a sport compact car, not some family car.

Do you know how much a real ALS system cost? It is about $50k. Nobody has that on their regular car. They do have cheap ass systems, I wouldnt even trust those..you can blow up easy if you set it up wrong.

ALS are high tech. It cost so much cuz it is the entire system, turbo(highly modified that can handle high amounts of compressor surge), exhaust manifold(extremely tuff that can handle explosions like a engine), and a computer that controls everything and it still has to work with the cars stand alone, now that is $$$ for tuning..and it is changed and tuned on almost every track. WRC arent just striped down STi's or EVO's...they are high tech expensive ass machines.

In basic terms, ALS makes a turbo car operate like a NA. Step on the gas = instant boost, let off the gas = car still in boost.

LFB is the alternative. Poor mans anti-lag system.

Chassis is still the same...The 300-hp Focus RS WRC uses 54 stock Ford parts from the regular street 210-hp Focus RS, including the powertrain (Same 2.0L Zetec I4 and Garrett turbo)...Yes, body work is nowhere near what you see on a street example, but it's not a mechanical alteration, and is done mearly for aerodynamics...Engines are also tilted back for balance, and other things like internal engines modifications, strengthened chassis, and larger intercooler/radiator are done for endurance reasons...

After all that, it's still dramatically different from a street car...But, uhh...

I don't know about anything else, but at least with WRC and the Focus, you can buy most of the parts used on the Focus WRC car from the Ford Racing Performance Parts catalog...

You still have to build your car to those specs, but I don't see any other companies supply OEM parts from their race cars like that...

*mindless, tired ramble*

I dont think he meant "lift off the ground", more like weight shifting to the rear. Both front tires can still be in contact with the ground when the weight shifts, but less weight on the front means less traction. You ever seen the pathetic times FWD cars run at the 60ft mark? And look at the highly modified drag fwd cars, they put wheelie bars on the back so weight cant shift all the way to the rear.