To me, WipEout is Wip3out. I loved that game despite the force wall and shield/boost mechanic.

I'd like to take the side that favours BR, if we consider WipEout as the evolution of F1, well they keep coming up with new tricks and technology to increase the speed on track. If you want a scientific reason for the BR boost, its a Kinitec Overcharge Device that causes a 100% increase in power from the potential energy created by the barrel motion.

If the BR worked 100% of the time, and that isn't helped by the awful Phat PSP D-Pad, then I doubt we'd be having this discussion.