Rivals "rubberband" to match your car's speed, but outsmarting them with shortcuts or manual gear shifting can give you the edge.
But I remembered one thing the ghost didn't have. nfs most wanted save file blacklist 1 rival challenge
The Rival Challenge is a key aspect of the Blacklist system. When a player reaches a new Blacklist level, they're presented with a new rival to defeat. This rival will have a specific set of skills, a preferred car, and a driving style that players must adapt to in order to succeed. Rivals "rubberband" to match your car's speed, but
Some files start you at 0% but with "Insane Cash" and all cars unlocked, allowing you to breeze through earlier ranks. a preferred car