Auto respawn after 35 tics if distancetofinish jumped too much

src/d_player.h

@@ -671,6 +671,7 @@ struct player_t
 	mobj_t *ringShooter;	// DEZ respawner object
 	tic_t airtime; 			// Used to track just air time, but has evolved over time into a general "karted" timer. Rename this variable?
 	tic_t lastairtime;
+	UINT8 bigwaypointgap;	// timer counts down if finish line distance gap is too big to update waypoint
 	UINT8 startboost;		// (0 to 125) - Boost you get from start of race
 	UINT8 dropdashboost;	// Boost you get when holding A while respawning
 

src/k_hud.cpp

@@ -5527,6 +5527,11 @@ static void K_DrawWaypointDebugger(void)
 			put("Cheat Check:", "{} / {}", stplyr->cheatchecknum, numcheatchecks);
 		put("Last Safe Cheat Check:", "{}", stplyr->lastsafecheatcheck);
 	}
+
+	if (stplyr->bigwaypointgap)
+	{
+		put("Auto Respawn Timer:", "{}", stplyr->bigwaypointgap);
+	}
 }
 
 static void K_DrawBotDebugger(void)

src/k_kart.c

@@ -8709,6 +8709,13 @@ void K_KartPlayerThink(player_t *player, ticcmd_t *cmd)
 		K_DoIngameRespawn(player);
 	}
 
+	if (player->bigwaypointgap)
+	{
+		player->bigwaypointgap--;
+		if (!player->bigwaypointgap)
+			K_DoIngameRespawn(player);
+	}
+
 	if (player->tripwireUnstuck && !player->mo->hitlag)
 		player->tripwireUnstuck--;
 
@@ -9874,6 +9881,17 @@ static void K_UpdatePlayerWaypoints(player_t *const player)
 		player->currentwaypoint = old_currentwaypoint;
 		player->nextwaypoint = old_nextwaypoint;
 		K_UpdateDistanceFromFinishLine(player);
+
+		// Start the auto respawn timer when the distance jumps.
+		if (!player->bigwaypointgap)
+		{
+			player->bigwaypointgap = 35;
+		}
+	}
+	else
+	{
+		// Reset the auto respawn timer if distance changes are back to normal.
+		player->bigwaypointgap = 0;
 	}
 
 	// Respawn point should only be updated when we're going to a nextwaypoint

src/p_saveg.c

@@ -417,6 +417,7 @@ static void P_NetArchivePlayers(savebuffer_t *save)
 		WRITEUINT32(save->p, K_GetWaypointHeapIndex(players[i].nextwaypoint));
 		WRITEUINT32(save->p, players[i].airtime);
 		WRITEUINT32(save->p, players[i].lastairtime);
+		WRITEUINT8(save->p, players[i].bigwaypointgap);
 		WRITEUINT8(save->p, players[i].startboost);
 		WRITEUINT8(save->p, players[i].dropdashboost);
 
@@ -996,6 +997,7 @@ static void P_NetUnArchivePlayers(savebuffer_t *save)
 		players[i].nextwaypoint = (waypoint_t *)(size_t)READUINT32(save->p);
 		players[i].airtime = READUINT32(save->p);
 		players[i].lastairtime = READUINT32(save->p);
+		players[i].bigwaypointgap = READUINT8(save->p);
 		players[i].startboost = READUINT8(save->p);
 		players[i].dropdashboost = READUINT8(save->p);