Assetto Corsa EVO teased an ambitious list of weather features, including multiple presets, dynamic weather changes, localised weather on large tracks and realistic wet driving physics. We will examine the weather features in version 0.1.5.1 of the early access and test how the car behaves on a damp track.
Weather Settings in AC EVO
AC EVO’s weather system has several preset options, and custom forecasts will be available in a future update. This is an improvement over the original Assetto Corsa, which required mods for anything beyond dry track conditions. However, the weather settings in AC EVO and Assetto Corsa Competizione are quite similar.
Presets like clear, cloudy, rain or heavy rain offer fixed conditions, including cloud cover, precipitation and fog density. The parameters defining the presets and future custom weather options in Assetto Corsa EVO are as follows:
- Dynamic or static weather. Selecting “Dynamic” allows weather conditions to shift throughout a session, while “Static” maintains the same conditions from start to finish.
- Sky coverage. The percentage of the sky covered by clouds.
- Precipitation. Expressed as a percentage, with higher values indicating a greater chance or intensity of rainfall.
- Fog density. Determines the thickness of surface-level fog, potentially impacting visibility.
- Wind direction. Indicates where the wind is coming from.
- Wind speed (in m/s). Wind in AC EVO can be manually adjusted, unlike in ACC. It can warn about impending weather changes and influence vehicle handling.
Wind direction and speed are not implemented in version 0.1.5.1 and should be added later with custom weather forecasts.
What is Dynamic Weather?
Dynamic weather simulates real-time changes in weather conditions during a session. Instead of racing under a constant, unchanging environment, drivers experience shifting conditions that affect car handling and race strategy. For example, the weather may transition from sunny skies to heavy rain, or a damp track may gradually dry as the race progresses.
The track surface evolves with the weather. When it rains, the surface becomes slippery, and puddles can form, increasing the risk of aquaplaning. As the rain eases, a ‘dry line’ often appears where cars disperse water, providing more grip. Additionally, ambient and track temperatures influence tyre performance and wear, while wind direction and strength can affect car handling, especially on long straights and during braking.
These changing conditions add a significant strategic element to racing because drivers must decide when to switch between slick or wet tyres. The racing line also becomes critical, as the dry line often becomes too slippery, pushing drivers to search for alternative lines.
The current industry benchmark is arguably the iRacing weather simulation (Tempest), which became available in the 2024 Season 2 update. Tempest features dynamic weather, puddles on track, spray, aquaplaning and wet lines. I will compare rain simulation in AC EVO with ACC as the predecessor and iRacing as the benchmark.
Driving in The Rain
I tested driving in the wet with slick and wet tyres. On slicks or road tyres, the wheelspin was manageable off the line, and although the car felt boat-like in corners, there was more front-end grip than expected. Despite being on slicks, understeer was relatively mild, and slides were surprisingly easy to catch. Driving over the racing line revealed a clear loss of grip, like in iRacing. It is a promising sign because it encourages exploring alternate lines for traction.
Wet tyres provided significantly more bite, especially through corners and braking zones. Kerbs were slippery, particularly the outer kerbs, while inside kerbs remained usable depending on the turn. Painted strips were treacherously slick, reinforcing the need for cautious line choices.
Overall, the slicks felt too capable and could be refined. The wet tyres, however, felt spot on, providing enough grip without making the racing line the fastest route. Assetto Corsa EVO shows improvements over ACC but is lacking compared to the iRacing weather system.
Future Features and Final Thoughts
Kunos promised a few exciting features that are not yet available in early access. In addition to the custom weather options mentioned above, they include:
- The dynamic localised weather system allows varying conditions in different sections of large circuits. For example, drivers may encounter dry tarmac on the Nürburgring GP circuit and heavy rain in the Nordschleife forest.
- Modding support for the community to enhance the game with custom weather conditions like thunderstorms and dense fog.
As usual with the current state of Assetto Corsa EVO, the conclusion is that the weather simulation shows promise but needs a lot of work to challenge other simulators. If the sim delivers the promised features and modders iron out the remaining minor issues, AC EVO can be a worthy competitor to iRacing and Le Mans Ultimate.
