Here the last straw, host can not change lap count, even in a private host. 8 ball races are set to only 5 laps and if your car is wreck, it will re-spawn.
Private lobby selection settings? I ask if lap count could be change and Codemasters mod said you can change lap count up to 10 laps:
Nice to see Codemaster putting out a demo before release of DIRT Showdown. I hope there a 8 ball track to race online, so I can see if host can set a 8 lap race. If races online are only 4 laps, then Codies shot themselves in both feet. Codies shot the other foot when we found out there will only be 8 players online. Need 12 players for rip roaring derby race like what we had in GRID.
And I sure hope Codemasters plan to give us at least 12 player online with GRID 2 ( 20 would be better, let host set player limit, 12 or 16 or 20 ). F1 2012 getting 16 player online.
For your info (I've seen you've asked a bit - couldn't say till now sorry!) You can change amount of laps on an 8Ball track, even as far up as 10 if you so desire for online multiplayer, not that there'd be many people left racing by then 
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I will pass on getting Showdown now and wait for GRID 2 and hope GRID 2 still has 12 player derby races.
I'm thinking the guys from Codematers never went online with GRID and did any 8 lap derby racing with 10-12 players, to screw up figure 8 racing in Showdown so bad.