Why is Assetto Corsa still the favorite simulation of not a few simracers around the world? The title dates back to 2014 , and studio Kunos Simulazioni has long since stopped updating. Yet an extraordinary community continues to evolve the game thanks to their Assetto Corsa mods.
Graphical optimization, day/night cycle, real-time weather, crazy vehicles and circuits… For simracing fans, Assetto Corsa is now, more than ever, a must-have. But of course, not all mods are created equal. There are the must-have mods, the average ones, and some are downright mediocre… And that’s normal!
After all, these mods are created by enthusiasts who have neither the budget nor the information available to the studios. And yet, there are some out there who are really doing extraordinary things. So, in this article, I’m going to share with you the Assetto Corsa mods that I consider totally indispensable. The ones on which I take the most pleasure and spend the most time 🙂
Content Manager for Assetto Corsa
To take Assetto Corsa to the next level, the first step is to install Content Manager, CSP (Custom Shader Patch) and SOL. Am I speaking in Chinese? Don’t worry, I’ll explain it all!
So, in concrete terms, Content Manager is an application that replaces the game launcher. This means you can manage your choice of vehicles, tracks, events and much more, without having to go through the Assetto Corsa menus.
It’s a tool that makes installing Assetto Corsa mods extremely simple. For the vast majority of mods, simply drag the mod file onto the Content Manager window and the application installs it directly. There’s no need to go rummaging through the game’s folders to install your mods, or you’ll end up making a mess of things. Content Manager takes care of this in a matter of seconds.
It’s an application that also lets yougo much faster and further in setting up your races and events. But also your image quality settings and game controls. Frankly, once you’ve had a taste of it, you’ll see no point in going through the game’s official launcher.
A free Lite version and a full version
Content Manager is available in 2 versions. A free version (with limited options) and a paid version. The price of the paid version depends on where you buy it; personally, I paid around €1.20. And let me tell you, even if I’d paid 20 or 30€, I’d have been delighted with my purchase. This application does so much and takes Assetto Corsa so much further that I can only recommend it to you at 200%.
Beyond the purely practical aspect, Content Manager is also indispensable for installing and using the second tool I recommend: Custom Shader Patch (CSP)
Custom Shader Patch, or CSP for short
So what is CSP? It’s a mod that manages shadows, lights, smoke, visual tire wear, etc, etc, etc. Basically, installing CSP is like putting Assetto Corsa on cocaine without risking an overdose or a bad trip.
Graphically, you’re in for a real treat, guaranteed. And everything is customizable, so you can tailor your settings precisely to your PC’s capabilities.
As with Content Manager, you can choose between the free and paid versions. The free version gives you access to the latest version of CSP. And with the paid version, on the creator’s Patreon, you’ll get the very latest version whenever an update is available. How much does it cost? Whatever you want, starting at €1.20! Personally, I’ve chosen to pay the modder double every month, because I think his work is just amazing.
SOL for Assetto Corsa
So, with SOL, we’re taking Assetto Corsa to the next level of excellence. Thanks to this mod, you’ll have access to dynamic weather management and seasonal changes. Yet another essential tool to take your simulator to the next level and increase racing immersion.
This is a free mod that you can download by creating an account on the RaceDepartment website. Here’s the link to find it easily 😉
Help with installing CSP and SOL
When I switched from console to PC simulation, I knew absolutely nothing about mods. And clearly, I was afraid of doing the wrong thing by installing all these tools. So I’ve come up with a French video that explains things very well:
My favorite Assetto Corsa circuit mods
Now that you’ve installed all the essential tools for boosting Assetto Corsa, let’s get to work on the game’s content.
Creating a track mod is a real pain in the ass. You need to understand the layout perfectly and be able to reproduce it to within an inch of its life. You have to understand the surface and make sure that every bump or change of grain is reproduced in the simulator. Create the entire direct environment so that the player can immerse himself in the heart of the race. In short, you have to make the circuit come alive . And that’s not something every modder can do.
How many times have I been disappointed to discover a graphically magnificent track with asphalt as smooth and lifeless as a slab of marble… Or to discover a track with a splendid surface but scenery worthy of a PS2… It’s definitely a lot of work to create the perfect track.
So here are the ones I find essential to get off to a good start.
The Bridgehampton circuit
Bridgehampton is undoubtedly the track on which I spend the most time. I spend just over 10% of my riding hours there, and it’s where I always start my steering wheel and set-up tests.
It’s an American circuit that was open from 1957 to 1997, right in the heart of the Hamptons. Unfortunately, the residents of the Hamptons complained so much about the inconvenience generated by the races that it was closed and turned into a golf course (in case you didn’t know, the population of the Hamptons is at least a millionaire…).
I love its fast curves, its grainy asphalt, its variations in terrain, its bumps, its worn edges … It’s a circuit that gives an incredible impression of life and lets you feel so many things through the force feedback that I take monstrous pleasure in it.
Want to get the most out of this circuit? Go and ride it with a good old Chinook Mk.2 (which I’ll tell you more about in a few lines). An exciting challenge and indescribable sensations. You’ll feel so much joy once you’ve mastered this car on this track, it’s just magic.
Here’s the link to download the track. Once downloaded, simply drag and drop it into the Content Manager window 😉
And because the modding community is so fabulous, there’s a mod to make the track even better, adding night lights and rain compatibility.
My favorite Assetto Corsa vehicle mods
Okay, so you’ve found the tracks you like, all that’s left is to add to your list of vehicles. But creating a good vehicle mod is no easy task!
You need to find the right information about the vehicle’s technical characteristics . Be able to reproduce every aspect of its driving as faithfully as possible. Reproduce its interior and exterior design with precision and grace. Make it sound as close to reality as possible. And finally, to calibrate the force feedback to be as precise as possible.
Difficult, isn’t it? But as you’ll see, there’s some very, very high quality among Assetto Corsa modders!
Race Sim Studio cars
Among the creators of truly insane quality mods, I invite you to take a look at what Race Sim Studio (RSS) has to offer. Among other things, they have a whole range of Formula mods, and some superb GTs.
My personal favorite is the RSS Formula Hybrid 2022. A professional-quality mod (like all their other vehicles) that will let you experience the 2022 Formula 1 season to the full on Assetto Corsa.
Personally, I opted for their pack, which includes all their vehicles. It cost around forty euros and I don’t regret it at all.
All the RSS vehicles are incredible in terms of driving sensations and tuning possibilities. It’s pure pleasure. But if you don’t want a complete package, you can also choose to buy the vehicles you like individually for just a few euros.
To get an idea of the quality of their mods, you can find some free vehicles directly on their site. In fact, it was thanks to a free vehicle test that RSS captured my wallet ^^
Singer 911
I’ve always had a particular attachment to the Porsche brand. It certainly goes back to my childhood and the very first car game I owned on PS1: Need For Speed Porsche 2000. I was delighted that Kunos was offering several DLCs dedicated to the German brand.
And inevitably, when I discovered the teeming world of mods, Porsche was the first thing I looked for. I quickly came across the Singer 911 and fell in love with it.
So, how can I describe the Singer 911 to you? In my opinion, it’s one of the most beautiful Assetto Corsa mods I’ve seen to date. This car is just incredible, and I’ll let you take a look at the presentation video:
The driving sensations are unbelievable, the attention to detail is impressive, it sounds incredible… In short, I ate up miles of sporty driving behind the wheel of this beauty.
And do you know what? It’s free!
Chinook Mk.2
So, the Chinook Mk.2 and me, it’s a bit of a sadomasochistic relationship. In terms of mods, the work is just incredible, there’s nothing to say. Graphically and in terms of feel, it’s perfect.
On the other hand, it’s a car that will TRY TO KILL YOU with every acceleration. The first time I went out on the track with it, I literally went out at every turn. It was extremely frustrating and I felt like quitting the game… BUT… My subconscious refused to give up and I continued my test for many long and painful minutes before finally figuring out how to drive it.
Because, let’s face it, if you’re passionate about simracing, you don’t want to drive only GT3s with ABS and TC on full blast… As a simracer, you want to live an experience, you want the satisfaction of mastering things.
So far, I can’t think of anything more satisfying than finally achieving some good times with the Chinook Mk.2. And what’s more, it’s available as a free download from Racedepartment.
Where can I find as many good Assetto Corsa mods as possible?
There are still hundreds of mods to be seen, as the Assetto Corsa community is extremely active. Allowing it to remain a benchmark in every respect, even today. And the most convenient place I’ve visited to find quality mods is undoubtedly the Racedepartment site.
I’ll be adding to this article as time goes by and as I make new discoveries. With one promise: to give you only the mods I’ve found exceptional 🙂
And you, what are your favorite mods on Assetto Corsa? I suggest we exchange ideas in the comments to help each other discover new nuggets 🙂
