[e36jakeo]

A reason to use a low-torque, high revving, high HP design is to allow for a lighter drivetrain. Torque from the engine requires beefier parts to be able to handle it. If you use a high revving smaller engine to make the same HP then you can usually make the car lighter.

F1 cars are the most extreme example of low torque, high HP. The 2.4L V8s in those things rev to 19,000(!!!) RPM and make something like 900 HP normally aspirated. But they only make around 250 to 300 lb ft of torque max. The way they achieve their incredible HP is through incredibly short gearing (torque multiplication to the extreme).