[woodcote]

I'm not even sure whether it would be compatible with a digital powerbase.

Yes, should be fine - although the ARC Pro powerbases in the Platinum set and upgrade kit (powerbase-controllers-power supply) won't like it without a modification. You'd probably want to go through the powerbase on two lanes just to look neat.

I have pondered digital rally / Targa Florio tracks over the years. My first (and only) routed track project was a single-lane analogue rally stage. I think for digital you would want to have a mix of single and two lane sections otherwise there is little point. One thing I like about digital is taking different racing lines around a track, which you can do with the straight and curved lane-changers, plus using a pit entry piece coming out of a single lane section. You might find different cars are quicker on different lines... or certainly have fun finding out!

Ghost cars don't quite work in a true prototypical rally scenario, but they would be fun - especially with single-lane sections. Yes, ghost cars are a different challenge to human racers, but they don't make mistakes and crash - and that can make it a difficult challenge to overtake. In designing a track for ghost car racing - or 'racing line' running - you want a good mix of left and right turns so it's not an advantage just to stay in one lane.

I would like to try a long rally time-trial with RCS64 software. There are great simulations with tyres losing grip as they wear, weather changes with a huge impact on grip and braking - as well as the effects of a reduced fuel load (you get more power). It is a fabulous piece of software that could really bring alive solo running against the clock. With deteriorating grip levels, you would definitely find the racing line changes from one lane to the other in some corners - as we find racing on our big layouts at WHO/digital.