Hm, I'd say the definition of a shortcut would be to totally disrespected the road. For exemple, the cut to go straight on racetrack instead of turning would be considered a shortcut. The smoll cut for port at the start (that you can see on my speedrun please like and suBskcribe clik the nOtIFiCaTioN BeLl") would not be considered a shortcut.
Better said, a shortcut should be defined as: "Cutting the track in such a way that you are not following the road intended by the developpers.
Exemple: On racetrack, there is a series of slalom near the end of a lap. Instead of going through the intended way the developpers want you to do, and do that slalom of the road, you go straight. That is a shortcut. The small port shortcut when you start to go at the right of the containers instead of the left, is not a shortcut, but a corner cut."
simple, if all 4 wheels of the car come off the limits of the road or tarmac, it's a shortcut
- this is easy to moderate
- establishes skill-based corner-cutting with a partial amount of the car off the track
- doesn't allow minor corner cuts like RaceTrack turn 1 or the various hairpins on gunma, the hill etc
