Why is it that all the top sports cars are manual shifted, and that racing in general is manual, and why is it that they are basically rear-wheel drive, and not 4WD.

Not really. Most sports cars nowadays don't use traditional manual transmissions anymore because the clutch pedal has been eliminated and given to computers and machine control.

In sports cars, it's more likely to be a dual-clutch transmission (DCT) or a sequential transmission, where the DCT is based on an automatic transmission but with automatic shifting, whereas the DCT and some sequential transmissions in sports cars not only offer an automatic shifting mode, but also the ability to shift manually with the shift paddles (which in fact, the sequential transmission is supposed to be shifted manually with the gear knobs), but the implementation of the transmission is ultimately controlled by the computer, and many of the video clutches and clutches are controlled by computers and machines. Many videos show manual shifting but that doesn't mean there is no automatic mode, it's just that starting in automatic mode is not the same as a normal automatic transmission (AT), the sports car needs to be put into 1st gear with the shift paddles in order to start. We are accustomed to categorize this type of dual-clutch transmission with automatic control as an automatic transmission, but it is not the same as an automatic transmission or a manual transmission (the clutch in an AT is realized by a torque converter, so there is no real clutch, and a manual is based on an AT), but is somewhat similar to a semi-automatic transmission (AMT).

As for why it's automatic, one reason is that the need for a manual becomes smaller, and another is that a manual can't cope with the high torque of a sports car when you press the clutch (it's too much effort). But that's not absolute, there are still some sports/performance cars that stick to tradition with manual transmissions.

Formula 1 (Formula 1) is a semi-manual gearbox, which is different from a normal manual transmission (MT) in that it does not have a gear knob, shifting gears and clutching is achieved by the steering wheel, and the clutch is only operated by humans in a few cases (e.g., when starting up or downshifting in high-speed corners, etc.), while the rest of the cases are mechanically operated clutches. But the f1 is not an automatic transmission, the gearshift is still operated by the driver, but by the electronic system to manipulate the gearbox to realize it, the equivalent of the MT with an electronic system, the FIA regulations can not be used in the car with an automatic transmission.

Other cars in higher categories such as Le Mans are in much the same situation as F1, while those in lower categories such as rally cars use traditional manual gearboxes.

Why racing and ordinary sports car instead of the opposite are manual gearshift, because the race is to show the driver's skills, the speed of the gearshift time on the driver's proficiency requirements are very high, the game is a race, but the minutes and seconds, to shorten the gearshift time is also the manufacturers to win the race points, which not only rely on the excellent performance of the transmission, but also depends on the driver's strength because the average non-professional drivers It is difficult for the average non-professional driver to master the perfect shift timing. So the significance of manual shifting for racing is self-evident.

Why is the sports car mainly four-wheel drive, one is the body structure decided not to use four-wheel drive, most of the sports car is used in the MR layout, that is, the engine in the middle of the rear drive, so that in the back of the rear axle behind the transmission can be faster power almost all the power to the tires, if it is a four-wheel drive have to be increased and change some mechanical structure, that is, increase the weight and complexity (for the maintenance of the subsequent repair caused great inconvenience) will lose part of the It is very inconvenient for the subsequent maintenance and repair) will also lose part of the power. Another four-wheel drive is difficult to drift, which for the driver does not want to buy a sports car but can not drift. There are exceptions to this rule, such as the Lamborghini or Audi R8, and the Nissan GT-R, which is front-engined. As for racing, F1 and other racing cars certainly can not use four-wheel drive, and more directly because since Audi quattro (the world's first four-wheel drive sedan) to participate in the various major competitions after the excellent results, many times overpowering other opponents to dominate the field, the FIA saw the FIA could not afford to sit down on the hastily banned four-wheel drive cars to participate in the competition.