Assetto Corsa Competizione is arguably the most advanced and realistic racing simulator available on consoles. The cars are designed to be one-to-one with their real-world counterparts and the tracks are laser-scanned so as to perfectly mimic the feel of the tracks used by GT drivers. Getting the hang of a complex simulator like this takes time, patience, and proper technique.
Players who are new to sim racing will likely have a hard time getting up to speed with this particular simulator. Cars can not be driven the way that they are driven in arcade racers such as Burnout or Need for Speed. Turning corners at 100 mph isn’t possible here. Drivers need to take their time and learn not only the feel of each track but of each car. Here is how to dramatically improve your lap time in Assetto Corsa Competizione.
Car Control in Assetto Corsa Competizione
Surprisingly enough, the first step to going fast is to slow down. Many players hop behind the wheel of a powerful GT3 car and slam on the gas. This is understandable, as these cars are incredibly fun to drive. The issue is that unlike arcade racers, simulators are much less forgiving in regard to car control. While GT cars are among the more stable cars in the racing world, they are easy to oversteer at high speeds.
The first thing a new player should do is pick a single car and a single track. The great thing about the game is that there are currently only GT3 cars available. The lack of diversity of car types prevents the confusion and indecisiveness that comes from simulators that offer a large number of car types. Players should pick a car that they like and work to learn it inside and out. They should also pick a track that they feel comfortable with and drive it slowly and carefully.
Take the time to slowly drive the track and gradually increase speed as familiarity increases. The goal is to increase the player’s Competency Rating. The game tracks how much control the player has over their vehicle, whether or not they can stay on the track, and whether or not they can maintain a steady pace. This process takes time and dedication. Remember that drivers will get better lap times from careful and accurate driving than they will from sporadic bursts of speed.
Improving Racecraft in Assetto Corsa Competizione
In addition to knowing the cars, players need to know how to navigate the track in a way that maximizes their time. Keeping a proper Racing Line is the best way to allow the player to keep a high speed throughout most of the course while never losing control of the car. Don’t be ashamed to turn on the Racing Line display. This is an option that will draw the proper line on the course. This line will change color to indicate when players should be breaking and accelerating. Driving with this line on will help players get into the habit of getting around the track in the most optimal way possible.
A great way to work on optimizing racecraft is to watch replays. Players have the option to replay their laps from a variety of different camera angles. Rewatching a race, especially from the helicopter view, can give players the ability to see where they can afford to be pushing the boundaries here and there. Driving carefully is essential to staying on the track, but accomplished racers know when to take corners a bit closer and break a bit later in order to skate across the finish line as quickly as possible.
Racing Against AI in Assetto Corsa Competizione
Another way to quickly improve your lap time is to race against AI. Driving in practice sessions is the best way to learn the courses and the cars. Driving against other cars is the best way to learn how to go faster without thinking too hard about it. Being flanked by multiple cars creates a feeling of stress that causes players to push their limits. This gives the player a more natural progression of skill that racing alone can not deliver.
Assetto Corsa Competizione is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.