@hakan_J
Voltage helps a lot with the right motor and gearing. Neu motors really are efficient and with the high voltage i only require between 40-60A to get 1200-1400 Watt to spool up the car to top speed. This motor has an efficiency of >90% and this is within 10-50A. And i use this motor right within its optimum efficiency level. That's why motor temperatures remain that low. On a typical run my average Amp draw is only 10A. That's around 300 Watt average. So the motor really does not break a sweat.
@lincpimp
Brakes are more then sufficient for a buggy. I can lock all 4 wheels when i want to, this is when the car drives above a certain speed. But when rolling slowly the breaks are weak (but i assume that is true for nearly every ESC). You can only go in reverse when the car has nearly stopped or is stopped. So you don't have to apply brakes to go in reverse. And you can't go to reverse when the car is still moving faster then crawling.
@lutach
The spot is sweet but i don't use it often as it is only good for high speed passes (and show off). During winter time this place is used to stock gravel which is used when roads are covered with snow. During summer time many guys use it to testdrive (wheelly) their motorbikes. And a few RC guys know this place also.
I'm looking forward to your project (and competition) and remember i'm only using a 13 tooth pinion. Looking at motor temps there is some headroom to gear it up some more