Certainly, when it comes to a brick like the E-Revo, I can't think of a whole lot that can (practically) be done to reduce the requirement for significant levels of power output.
Above around 70mph, aerodynamics starts to play its part and, if one is contesting an open-wheel record, one is forced to make a trade-off between grip and drag. The wider the tyres, the more grip you'll have but the more drag they'll cause. Worth pointing out that speed racing is essentially drag racing by another name and over a longer distance, since we are limited by eyesight and radio control range. Of course, there is the option of an FPV camera system but, as far as I'm aware, no body has successfully implemented such a system on a speed run car.
So, we're back to drag racing over some 700 or so feet which is already beyond the limit of eyesight. One thing that is rarely realised is that, at some point, drag will probably take over. The amount of drag holding the vehicle back with become close to the mechanical grip pushing it forwards and the nett result will be that, no matter how much power you have, your tyres will start to lose their grip. It's just like holding the vehicle against a wall except you're already going fast and it's very easy to lose control.
There are designs for small, light-weight CVT's but, so far as I'm aware, nobody makes one small enough to use (yet!). One area for development is electronic traction control, which I'm currently working on. It's not as easy as it may seem and besides, when the drag takes over, traction control would simply prevent the vehicle from accelerating. It would only be useful in an ultra-low-drag vehicle.
Below 70mph, the best thing you can do is reduce weight as much as possible, while increasing power and strength. This will increase acceleration but take it from me, the faster you go, the more likely you are to lose control. And the more damage will be done when you do. Unless you have an unlimited budget, there's another trade-off between weight and durability.
For the record, my solutions to these problems were:
1) Reduce aerodynamic drag: Built a Revo-based body shell which extended down to a splitter close to the ground and was trimmed to minimise the amount of air negotiating the suspension arms. Also reduced frontal area by narrowing the track using Slayer arms.
2) Grip: Produced a set of foam tyre/wheel combo's. Also used specially reinforced HPI Phaltline tyres on Blast wheels. In the end, the foams were best at the rear and the Phaltlines at the front.
My avatar gives you an idea of the end result.
I think that the "best way to utilise the power we already have" is exemplified by Tim Smith's JC Dragworx dragster which has managed 179mph in practice on 6S, although, at a recent speed run meeting, Tim "only" managed 143mph with no front tyres! This car has also managed to achieve 119mph on 2S. It's very light. Very streamlined and has loads of grip. Power is probably somewhere around 2.5-3KW. Here's a pic...
