An early TX3 Laser AWD with a Mazda BPT or even just a mazda B6T engine would be a great little starting point. Small, light, fragile, suspension is simple
Here are a couple of videos from the WRC in Coffs last year. Forgot I had them could have posted them earlier. Taken on my phone
First one is one of the WRC world rally cars - fast and efficient - and sort of boring compared to the second video. Same piece of track, just the other side of the track