Had some good time with the game last night. Unlocked the next couple of areas. Still don't like the world map approach but the stadium events help group up the tracks in a more manageable way so that helps with navigation.
Very much enjoying the quality of the content, tracks, tutorials, stadium events, even the contracts and progression seems fine to me so far. Checking friends leaderboards and racing their ghosts is horribly addictive - and a much nicer way to play levels than the standard set of two rubbish and one better than you opponents that mean you constantly get reminded of your 2nd-ness. I get what they were targeting with this approach but it's not well implemented as is and should be more controllable with options.
One small problem I did find is that I did the first set of stadium events successfully but just got silver in the first event. Went back to gold it but the set of standard AI opponents are now mostly replaced by other people AI bots, and they are too good 🙁 - a group of 5 piss off at the start and take a quicker tough to nail route through the level leaving me finishing at best 6th. I can clear the time required for gold easily but because I'm not placed in the top four I fail the event and it doesn't count. I'll try again later to see if the other people AI is adjusted, otherwise it's going to be a non-gold thorn in my side for some time!