Retrospectively, this race concept may not have been amongst the brightest of ideas.
What if all the ship scanning they are doing for now, is because they are searching for pilots identified as participating in the profanation of their relic? We're dooooomed! Dooooomed!
How about organizing a new event at the site, this time called "Respectfully approach the Alien, bow down and wish him well"? Rules: participants are supposed to approach the alien relic at no more than 25 m/s, stop at no less than 500 meters from it, and then simply self-destruct as a gesture of good will.
