Assetto Corsa Competizione is Kunos Simulazioni's officially licensed GT World Challenge sim, built in Unreal Engine 4 and narrowed deliberately to GT racing rather than the open car buffet of the original Assetto Corsa. It carries more than thirty GT3 cars under Balance of Performance, eleven GT4 cars, six GT2 cars, the GTC single make racers and the BMW M2 CS Racing in TCX, across 24 laser scanned circuits. The endurance calendar matters here too, with the Spa 24 Hours and the 24H Nurburgring as full events rather than set dressing.
This walkthrough takes you from your first session to endgame content. Each phase has specific goals, priorities, and milestones. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Progression Summary
| Phase | Area | Focus | Build | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Start | Spa Francorchamps | Balance of Performance basics | GT4 | 1-2 hours |
| 2. Early | Monza | Tyre pressure window mastery | GT4 | 3-5 hours |
| 3. Mid | Nurburgring | TC and ABS driving aids + gear | GT3 or GT4 | 5-10 hours |
| 4. Late | Brands Hatch | Build optimization | GT3 | 5-10 hours |
| 5. Endgame | Zandvoort | Min-max | GT3 or TCX | Ongoing |
See our maps guide for detailed area breakdowns.
Phase 1: Getting Started (Spa Francorchamps)
Seven kilometres through the Ardennes forest with Eau Rouge and Raidillon at its heart, and the venue for the Spa 24 Hours. A GT3 lap sits around 2:17.
Level/Difficulty: All Key Rewards: Commitment through fast corners, elevation reading, endurance pace
What to Do in Spa Francorchamps
- Learn Balance of Performance. Every GT3 car runs under BoP, so a Ferrari 296 GT3 and a Porsche 992 GT3 R are pegged to similar pace by weight and power adjustments. Spend your first session getting comfortable with this.
- Pick GT4 as your starting build. See our builds guide for why.
- Fix tyre pressures before touching anything else in the setup, because a dry GT3 tyre outside the 27.5 psi hot window will hide every other change you make.
- Acquire your first equipment upgrade: Damper settings or whatever's available.
- Clear all main content before moving on.
Phase 1 Checklist
- Understand Balance of Performance fundamentals
- GT4 selected and functional
- Spa Francorchamps main content cleared
- Ready for Monza
Phase 2: Early Game (Monza)
The lowest downforce circuit in the game, defined by the Variante del Rettifilo, the two Lesmos, Ascari and the long run to Parabolica. A GT3 lap is around 1:47.
Level/Difficulty: All Key Rewards: Braking technique, slipstream racing, low drag setup practice
What to Do in Monza
- Work on Tyre pressure window. Dry GT3 tyres want roughly 27. This system becomes critical from here on.
- Farm for Damper settings if you haven't already. It's the key upgrade for this phase.
- Set cold pressures with the session temperature in mind, since a cool morning practice and a hot afternoon race need different starting values to land in the same window.
- Complete all objectives before pushing to Nurburgring.
- Consider whether GT3 might suit your playstyle better than GT4.
Phase 2 Checklist
- Tyre pressure window integrated into gameplay
- Damper settings acquired
- Monza fully cleared
- Ready for Nurburgring
Phase 3: Mid Game (Nurburgring)
The Grand Prix circuit, roughly 1:54 in a GT3 car, running from the Mercedes Arena through the Schumacher S to the Coca Cola Kurve. The separate 24H layout adds the Nordschleife for the full endurance event.
Level/Difficulty: Intermediate Key Rewards: Traction out of slow corners, chicane discipline, 24 hour event access
What to Do in Nurburgring
- Master TC and ABS driving aids. Traction control and ABS are real systems on these cars, not arcade assists, and you change them from the wheel mid stint. This unlocks a new layer of gameplay.
- Start working toward Aero and wing angle. It's the best equipment and becomes accessible around now.
- Remember that Balance of Performance pegs the GT3 field together, so pick the car whose front end and braking stability suit you rather than hunting the fastest chassis.
- This area is the main skill check. If you can clear it, you're ready for late game.
- Start investing in Track grip evolution for the tactical depth you'll need going forward.
Phase 3 Checklist
- TC and ABS driving aids mastered
- Aero and wing angle acquired or in progress
- Nurburgring fully cleared
- Ready for Brands Hatch
Phase 4: Late Game (Brands Hatch)
The Grand Prix loop is under four kilometres and around 1:24 in GT3, opening with the blind drop into Paddock Hill Bend and the climb to Druids.
Level/Difficulty: Intermediate Key Rewards: Blind apex confidence, elevation change, close British GT racing
What to Do in Brands Hatch
- Finalize your build. You should be running GT3 or GT4 with optimized gear.
- Aero and wing angle should be your primary. If you don't have it yet, prioritize getting it.
- Run enough practice laps for the track to rubber in before judging a setup, because a green circuit can hide several tenths of real pace.
- Safety Rating and ranked servers optimization starts here. Small improvements compound into massive advantages.
- Farm this area for the resources needed to push into Zandvoort.
Phase 4 Checklist
- Build fully optimized
- Aero and wing angle upgraded to max
- Brands Hatch fully cleared
- Ready for Zandvoort
Phase 5: Endgame (Zandvoort)
Tight, banked and unforgiving, with the Hugenholtz banking and the banked Arie Luyendyk final corner feeding onto the pit straight. A GT3 lap is around 1:35.
Level/Difficulty: Advanced Key Rewards: Banking technique, overtaking under pressure, high downforce setup work
What to Do in Zandvoort
- Zandvoort tests everything. Come prepared with your best build and gear.
- Move brake bias forward if the rear steps out on entry and backward if the car refuses to rotate, and use the wheel controls rather than returning to the garage.
- The endgame loop: run Zandvoort, optimize gear, push harder content.
- Experiment with TCX for a fresh take once you've mastered the standard builds.
- This is where Safety Rating and ranked servers mastery separates good players from great ones. See our tips guide for advanced strategies.
Phase 5 Checklist
- Endgame content on farm
- Best-in-slot gear acquired
- Zandvoort fully cleared
- Ready for challenge content
Common Progression Mistakes
- Downloading a fast setup and driving it without adjusting cold tyre pressures for the session temperature, which puts the tyres outside the working window.
- Chasing a supposedly faster GT3 car when Balance of Performance means the difference between the Ferrari 296 GT3 and the BMW M4 GT3 is driving style, not lap time.
- Turning traction control down to zero for a faster single lap and then destroying the tyres before half distance in a race.
- Judging a setup on the first three laps of a green track, before the circuit has rubbered in enough to show what the car actually does.
- Jumping into Competition servers without the Safety Rating to be there, which produces contact, penalties and a rating that falls further.
Key Tips for Smooth Progression
- Fix tyre pressures before touching anything else in the setup, because a dry GT3 tyre outside the 27.5 psi hot window will hide every other change you make.
- Set cold pressures with the session temperature in mind, since a cool morning practice and a hot afternoon race need different starting values to land in the same window.
- Remember that Balance of Performance pegs the GT3 field together, so pick the car whose front end and braking stability suit you rather than hunting the fastest chassis.
- Run enough practice laps for the track to rubber in before judging a setup, because a green circuit can hide several tenths of real pace.
- Move brake bias forward if the rear steps out on entry and backward if the car refuses to rotate, and use the wheel controls rather than returning to the garage.
For more advanced strategies, see our tips & tricks guide.
More Assetto Corsa Competizione Guides
- Assetto Corsa Competizione Assetto Corsa Competizione Overview
- Assetto Corsa Competizione Best Builds
- Assetto Corsa Competizione Tier List
- Assetto Corsa Competizione Beginner's Guide
- Assetto Corsa Competizione Tips & Tricks
- Assetto Corsa Competizione Weapons Guide
- Assetto Corsa Competizione Combat Guide
- Assetto Corsa Competizione Boss Guide
- Assetto Corsa Competizione Maps & Locations
- Assetto Corsa Competizione Crafting Guide
- Assetto Corsa Competizione Classes & Characters
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