8.5T is great for most normal sized tracks. Some go as far as 6.5T for the bigger tracks, but a 8.5T boosted could certainly keep up.

As far as the car goes, I feel it is very stable and easy to control. It is durable, fairly easy to tune, and the US LiPo Set-up works almost everywhere with only minor tweaks. Front shock shafts and ball cups seem to be the common failures which don't happen that often. It is a good, sound platform.