I have about 20 years experience, I also modify engines but do keep the fast racing engines I buy alone because I do think they are fast enough. I design and make parts for my cars and am involved with the devellopment of an engine.

Yes, listings in important races is important, it does say something about the performance and also about the will for improvement. If no topdriver is listed as a team driver I do think the performance and devellopment stays behind or even at a low level. (as example you can see this with clubracers if there is no fast driver to learn from)
I know that even a Flash tuned you can get at any shop is still fast in the hands of a WC finalist but can a BP (or Vega) reach that same performance in the same hands?

Then there is a difference between Europe and the US. In the US a lot of tracks are short/small so an engine with more toque is needed while the high RPM's are the way to go fast on Europian tracks and ofcourse the gearing and setup does count with the performance of an engine so that is why I do say "in the hands of a top level driver"

Do not get me wrong, in the past in Holland we did have "the Ridder", a small engine company with a nice engine but the hired drivers wern't the fastest and smartest and the topdrivers in Holland would not dare to drive them on the races because the lack of performance.

And there is lifespan. A very important factor in the hand of drivers who just have to save money on this hobby. I am aware that lifespan and performance are not going hand by hand, I do see that with our engines and that is taking time. Ofcource this does not tell anything about the performance of the BP or Vega because I do know it can be improved but it has its price.

I am a die hard Novarossi user because I do know what I get (also the known problems) even if I can buy 2 BP engines for the price of one Flash but like to experiment with engines if it is within the limit op my budget. If the PS set of a 935R does fit a Novarossi crankcase (I have a lot) then I would try a PS set for just 100 euro.