How do I race my friends with no AI in the race

Last night every time I invited friends in the race it automatically switched to coop campaign mode, which basically meant all the races we were in were just the same as when I raced them by myself. So there were AI drivers in the race as to be expected. In the previous version of horizon you could go to a location on the map with the people in your party and start a race and it would just be a race with you and your friends. Is there a way to do this and if not holy crap they need to add that back in because the AI drivers are absolutely horrible they drive around like they have a pirate patch or something. They have no idea where you are on the track and don’t respond at all to your presence.

So the short question is. Is there a way to create a true private match with just your friends and no one else?

I think it’s to make it more fun. I did online free roam but could only get like 6 people so far. There is a option for create own free roam private.

Go to social and do private session, then invite, and have fun!