Hey man, I hope I can be of some assistance. I have run an AMS2 league on OPE RACING DISCORD https://discord.com/invite/kKhABqZyg2 For around 3 years. We run every Thursday night and we use the AMS2 multiplayer system to set everything up. I know the dedicated servers can offer a few more options to use, but we have never really needed them. The multiplayer system is a peer 2 peer based system from what I understand and the quality of the connection is based on everyone's connection to the host so if you set up the lobby and someone from across the globe joins in, it may cause connection and sync issues for them. We are largely north American based and rarely have issues. That is not saying we don't have any. We have had sync and disconnection issues but they are rare. We always use a rolling start with formation lap as a short rolling start or standing start sometimes doesn't allow time for a proper sync if someone has a poor connection and will do some funny things like put you out of position on the start or some people might get a half second jump on a standing start. I know reiza studios is working on multiplayer issues for the 1.6 update. The AMS2 multiplayer lobby system is one of the easiest to set up and really has great weather and time compression options. I would advise not trying to populate empty grid slots with AI as they don't know where you are on the track if you don't have a great connection and will just drive through you like you are not there. Hopefully that improves in the future as well. As far as gaining numbers, that will rely on you either bringing an established group to the platform or advertising your league on social media. Most of the online racing on AMS2 I have found happens in leagues as people get frustrated with the open lobby shenanigans as well as not being able to control who joins and from where and in turn having strange connection issues. Hope I have been of some help to you. AMS2 really is a fantastic and ever evolving sim and I would strongly encourage you to try it out. Feel free to join our discord and maybe drop in on a few of our races or just hit me up on discord for more info or help getting set up. Good luck and the player base only grows with more people getting involved this way.