I joined the race server yesterday to see how the mod was doing, and discovered that the weapons were completely disabled — even removed on some maps. Not only that, but the players could run through each other. In other words, the player interaction had been completely removed from the game. For me, that completely removes the point of online gaming. If the players can't interact, then there's no point in playing online. Also, merely running around in circles is (imho) boring.
But I like the idea of a race mod. Here's how I would like to see it done:
1. Make it a team game. With weapons that work.
2. Each team has to complete a given number of laps of the map in order to win. Say, 50 (less for large maps). It doesn't matter which of the players run around the track, just like it doesn't matter which players cap the flag in CTF.
This will allow some players to race around the track and complete laps while the rest interfere with the other team's runners.
3. A lap is a full circuit from finish line to finish line. You can't start in the middle, even if you spawn there. If you get fragged halfways through, you have to start the lap over. You have to do the control points in the right order.
4. Optional "for fun" rule: When a player completes his or her fourth lap in a row (without being fragged, that is), an icon appears above the player's head and stays there until the fifth lap is completed. If that player completes the fifth sequential lap, his or her team gets awarded *two* laps, not one. Ditto for a player's ninth, fourteenth, etc lap.
The icon above the player's head is there to tell the other team that they really need to stop that particular player.