The only reason I think Monogram went with the front engine driveshaft design was to allow full interiors in those cars. The Greenwich Corvettes are nicely detailed cars and the chassis design compliments that. Many other manufacturers used sidewinder chassis to get the motor behind the interior, such as Pioneer and Scalextric Trans Am cars (before the Javelin which has a newly created inline configuration).
if you have several Monogram driveshaft cars you'll be able to do what is generally recommended here on HRW - race cars against each other by type. All of the Scalextric Trans Am cars are comparable and closely matched performance wise, and the Pioneer Trans Am cars fit in here too. But my Monogram Mustang GT 350 isn't on their level. If all your cars in a class are of the same type you should have good racing, regardless of chassis design.