Back on topic:
You're considering this race from the wrong point of view. The leveling to 80 is just an excuse for PvP. It's like, you know those races in the US were cars running around a dirt pit is an excuse to see them bang into each other.
It's like an endurance race with zombies you need to out-run or kill on your way.
To quote the Dalaï-Lama, "The importance is the journey not the destination little scarabee"
A few suggestions i really like:I missed that but it's a huge must !
An other suggestion i would like to make:
Disable mini-games. It's supposed to be an open-world race. I don't see the point of being able to go there to farm minis instead of being out in the Open were the real stuff is happening. Not to mention the fight clubing possible with 11 friends.