Power Steering: Mechanical vs Electric

Is there any benefits of using electric power steering over the normal mechanical pump type? Also looking at most of the newer cars which come out they have electric power steering, but its all integrated into the ECU so like it provides more assistance at slow speed but less at high speed.
Does mechanical power steering work in the same way or does it just give you 1 default setting?
Do you get electric power steering like this where its just 1 setting and not dependant on the speed?
Was watching the Daytona Prototypes on TV the other day and they were saying how all the cars use electric power steering instead of the normal mechanical pump....

electric PAS doesn't rob power from the engine, so thats one benifit, another is no drive belt to wear and fall off, a third could be easier packaging.

there are also lots of cars out ther that use hydralic power steeering in conjuction with an electric pump, lost of the smaller peugoets and merc A class are just two.

you can make a normal type pas system speed sensative.

i know you have got a fair bit of power for a fwd car, but do you really need pas?

colin chapman said " for speed add lightness" and its still very true today especially on race cars, i also like to keep things nice and simple less to go wrong

At the moment the steering is already violant without even having a LSD fitted yet.
Also with the bigger wheels Im gonna have to fit i think its only gonna get harder.
If I had to fit a higher ratio rack as well it could be almost impossible.
The std rack on the car is something like 3.5 turns lock to lock iirc, its ridiculous.
Kinda like doing a 3 point turn at some of the turns :D
I could fit either type of pas but i like the idea of using a hydraulic setup with an electric pump cos that would take up less space and as you mentioned no need for extra belts or robbing any sort of power form the engine.

Not sure how much lighter I can go, the car already ways under a ton.

Not sure how much lighter I can go, the car already ways under a ton.

thats still quite heavy i know of several FWD race cars that weigh in around 600kg

600kg's!!!!!!!!! That is seriously light!!!!
guess i'll be going back to the drawing board on the weight... perhaps time to change the panals and doors to CF or something :D

yep i know one turbo vauhall nova thats only 666kg with the driver on board!

its basically a case of throwing every thing that doesn't have to be there to make it go away.

The std rack on the car is something like 3.5 turns lock to lock iirc, its ridiculous.
Kinda like doing a 3 point turn at some of the turns :D
.

hmm my mate had similar thoughts on his car,

infact he used to have a quick rack, but refitted a std rack after breaking the quick rack, and complained out how slow the steering was until, i totally reworked the geometry and spring rates which got the car turning in properly, he has since then changed the rack again, but for another std one, if you get a race car to turn in properly you dont need one, i'm only talking about pure race cars here rally cars for use on the loose are a different kettle of fish