The Colonial Influence Race continues until one Nation is ahead by three levels, at which point the leading two powers move onto the second stage of the Race and any trailing Nations are kicked out.
[...]
Either side may still Withdraw, or can win the State by getting two levels ahead of their rival, [...]
The new system sounds really enticing, but this part I don't understand. If the second stage is entered as soon as the leader is 3 levels ahead and finished as soon as he is at least 2 levels ahead, won't that just instantly complete? How could you be 3 ahead without being 2 ahead as well?
Or are both remaining countries levels somehow reset meaning one of them had to pay more than the other just to enter the second stage?