Assetto Corsa: Preserving Historic Motorsport Through Digital Archiving

Now and then, the average sim racer may experience burnout from seeing their hobby as a performance-oriented aspect of their life. Many aspects of sim racing focus on modern race cars, which are engineered to be the apex predators of modern race engineering with high aero, adjustable ABS and TC systems, and much more – allowing the driver to push the laws of physics to the absolute limits, all in the name of competition.

As a counter to this, this blog series aims to reach those who enjoy or might be open to exploring the analog, dynamic driving experience of racing older cars with few or no driver-aid systems, maybe in an offline, non-competitive environment. Thanks in part to the modding community of Assetto Corsa, the digital archiving of historic motorsport is preserved and celebrated, and it is an aspect that is often overlooked in a sim racing community that predominantly focuses on competition in GT3, Hypercars, LMPs, and Formula, which reflects their real-life counterparts’ popularity. This blog also speaks to those on the fence about their next sim equipment upgrade and who might want a break from the competitive scene’s ‘hustle and bustle.’ It is aimed at those who seek to enhance their sim rigs’ capabilities for entertainment, driven by intrinsic motivation where the activity of driving is deemed rewarding in itself, rather than the usual extrinsic motivation focused on competitive driving with the aim of winning.

Each blog entry will feature a car and track combination from OverTake. gg’s Assetto Corsa modding database. Known for its safety and reliability, this will be the exclusive source for mods in this series. The blog invites followers to suggest their favorite car and track combinations for future posts, and suggestions can be submitted through our Instagram channel (DMs) and in the comments to be featured here. The only requirement is that the mods must come from OverTake.gg in order to be considered.

The Car / Track Combination

The car mod featured in this entry is the Caterham R300 2008 with a manual gearbox and its newer iteration, the 420R 2020, which is equipped with a sequential gearbox. Both share the same 180bhp 2.0 litre Caterham Motorsport Tuned Engine. The only difference is the gearbox, so the choice depends on whether you prefer paddle-shifters or stick-shifters. Created by renowned mod-creator Ben O’Bro, the mod is based on his real-life experience with Caterhams, and the passion and expertise put into the mod to bridge the gap between reality and simulation makes for an addictive driving experience.

The Caterham will be paired with a recent iteration of Cadwell Park by Luis Barata, spanning 8.0 kilometers. The narrow track features fast corners that traverse multiple altitude changes, exemplified by the iconic ‘The Mountain,’ where faster cars momentarily take flight as they cross the top. It is a very technical course, exemplified by the twisty ‘roller-coaster’ section called the ‘Hall Bends,’ which perfectly suits lighter cars such as the Caterham, weighing in at 585 kg.

Aligning with the driving ethos of this blog series, the car/track combination serves as the ideal testbed for calibrating any clutch system add-on. Additionally, it offers a great way to hone your driving skills in a car without intervening TC and ABS systems. Depending on your chosen gear ratio, some sections will require downshifts from 6th to 3rd gear, making it perfect for optimizing your clutch curve for fast and precise inputs necessary for heel-toeing. With the Caterham, you’ll learn how to handle a car that doesn’t necessarily want to turn, to fight to utilize each inch of the narrow track, and to attain every possible degree of rotation.

Understanding how to apply controlled throttle micro-inputs in response to the grip of the front and rear tires, which are affected by constant weight transfers over the many bumps and crests of the track, is crucial. Mastering when to accelerate and even break traction to induce rotation while climbing the Mountain and manoeuvring through the bends, when the weight shifts slightly off the rear tires, is a gratifying experience. As such, the car/track combination also offers ideal conditions for fine-tuning throttle curves and provides an excellent foundation for developing good driving habits.