RE: Total noob, designing a car from scratch.
Four wheel drive cars a far superior than 2wd in RC. They do exist though.
[link=http://www.molzermoweryracing.com/movies/theshoe071705.wmv]Here is a video[/link] of some 5th scale F1 cars. They are 2 wheel drive and have four wheel brakes I believe. They use 22cc? four stroke engines I believe.