Pure weapon spam-hell plus cheating AI from rank 4 onwards - advice please?

[Dat Zorro]

Ahoi!

As much as the driving, insane speeds and creative tracks are fun, it takes a deep dive in rank 4 of the campaign and turns into sheer frustration.

Not only do you have to compete with the ridiculous rubberband-AI, but the weapon spam gets unbearable. Missiles and bullets flying everywhere, so you are likely getting hit by collateral damage and once you are in the lead, an assassin is coming your way for sure. Of course in pairs, just to make sure you will get hit in front of the finishing line and ruining your victory. Restarts and rage occured.

I swear, it's even worse than Mario Kart sometimes, where you have at least more options to defend yourself. Don't want to know how bad it gets on hard. Since from my experience, it seems like you are either screwed over by the AI who love to overtake you on the last meters or blasted into oblivion.

But I'm also certain that "Just save a shield and hope for the best" can't be an adequate answer, so I would like to ask you for some advice on how to survive the following races without ragequitting, please. :)

THX 11-38 in advance for your help.

[Chris@CE]

We've tweaked the catchup and beginning of campaign so it should be better for next patch