Assetto Corsa Competizione includes many car models that can participate in a race simultaneously with their performance evened out by the balance of performance (BoP) rules. However, the BoP is sometimes flawed, and you may find that one of the cars has an advantage compared to others.
There is an alternative to the BoP races though, usually referred to as single-make championships, where only one car can participate; for example, Ferrari, BMW, Lamborghini and Porsche organise these races in both the real world and sim racing to promote their brands. ACC features one single-make car from each manufacturer, so let’s learn more about them.
The Current List of ACC’s Single-make Cars
ACC includes four single-make cars released as part of the Challenger DLC:
- Ferrari 488 Challenge EVO: used in the Ferrari Challenge championships and the official Ferrari Esports Series
- Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2: raced in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo series and the Super Trofeo Esports in sim racing
- BMW M2 CS Racing: homologated for TCX class racing and competing internationally in its own M2 CS Racing Cup series
- Porsche 992 GT3 Cup: the sole car of the Porsche Supercup and Porsche Carrera Cups.
Note that even though these models may look like GT3 cars, they are all technically in different classes, and you cannot use them in GT3 races.
Ferrari 488 Challenge EVO
The Ferrari 488 Challenge EVO is a race car designed exclusively for the Ferrari Challenge, a one-make racing series for Ferrari clients. It uses a 3.9-litre V8 twin-turbocharged engine, producing approximately 670 horsepower.
Compared to the Ferrari 296 GT3, the 488 Challenge car is heavier and has less downforce but more power. On a typical 2-minute circuit, the Ferrari 488 Challenge EVO will be about 5-7 seconds per lap slower than the GT3 version.
The Key Characteristics of Ferrari 488 Challenge EVO
- You must lift more in medium and high-speed corners than in the GT3 car because the Ferrari 488 Challenge EVO has less downforce. For example, Eau Rouge/Raidillon at Spa is flat-out in the Ferrari 488 GT3, but the Challenge car will require a significant lift to negotiate this corner.
- You have to be very smooth with the throttle at the early stages of acceleration because the Ferrari 488 Challenge EVO has more power, and sharper acceleration starts at lower speeds than in the GT3.
- At the end of long straights, the Ferrari 488 Challenge EVO is 10-15 km/h faster than the GT3, so you should adjust braking points accordingly. Usually, you can aim to brake about 30-40 meters earlier to compensate for overspeed.
- In terms of setups, the two Ferraris are similar. One key difference is aero settings, where the Ferrari 488 Challenge EVO likes more wing and rake than the GT3 to compensate for the less efficient aero.
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Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2
The Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO 2 is built for one-make racing in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo series. The car follows a similar design approach as the Ferrari to differentiate between the single-make and GT3 cars.
The Super Trofeo car uses the same 5.2-litre V10 as the GT3 but outputs more power because the GT3 BoP rules do not apply in the single-make series. It also has less aero and is significantly slower in fast corners, so the Super Trofeo car will be between 3-5 seconds per lap slower than the GT3 on a typical 2-minute circuit.
The Key Characteristics of Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2
- Many points mentioned about the Ferrari 488 Challenge EVO also apply to this car, such as needing to lift off in some fast corners, applying the throttle smoother and bringing braking points at the end of long straights earlier because of the higher top speed.
- The Lamborghini Super Trofeo is quite prone to turn-in and mid-corner oversteer, but you can fix or at least mitigate these problems with the setup. The key areas to look at are preload differential (higher values help with turn-in oversteer) and bump and rebound dampers.
BMW M2 CS Racing
BMW’s modern racing pedigree extends to all levels of the sports car racing ladder, not just the very highest ones. Its support for track day heroes and upcoming amateurs is no more apparent than in the M2 CSR, homologated for TCX class racing and competing internationally in its own M2 CS Racing Cup. BMW Motorsport and BMW M collaborated to design the car after adapting key learnings from the creation of the M4 GT4 to entry-level racing.
Weighing in at 3405 pounds and producing 365 horsepower from a 3.0-liter I6 engine in its Cup variant, the M2 CSR offers plenty of power for aspiring future stars who are looking for something that’s not quite a GT4, but also faster than many other entry-level vehicles. The car also features a fully FIA-approved roll cage, racing rear wing and front splitter, and specially tuned ABS system.
Key Characteristics of the BMW M2 CS
- All power goes to the rear wheels
- Less downforce than every other car in ACC
- Expect oversteer and potential sideways action, especially under throttle
- While you may not use all 7 gears, it’s geared for variety
Porsche 992 GT3 Cup
The Porsche 992 GT3 Cup is designed for the one-make Porsche Carrera Cup series, which has multiple regional renditions, and the international Porsche Supercup. The car uses a familiar 4.0-litre flat-six engine which produces 485 horsepower – significantly less than the Porsche 992 GT3 R – with suspension similar to its road car equivalent. Importantly, it features no TC and has minimal areo, leading to a driving experience that’s very different to its GT3 class counterpart.
The Porsche 992 GT3 Cup is approximately 3-4 seconds per lap slower than the Porsche 992 GT3 R, but this deficit comes from different areas compared to the Ferrari and Lamborghini. The Cup car is quite similar to the GT3 in the overall design but arguably more challenging to drive and can teach the fundamentals of racing Porsches well.
The Key Characteristics of Porsche 992 GT3 Cup
- You may need to lift more in fast corners because the Cup car has less aero. However, the relative difference in aero load between the two Porsches is significantly smaller than between the two Ferraris.
- The Cup car has no traction control, so you should be smooth with the throttle to maximise acceleration. In addition, it will help with the race pace thanks to lower rear tyre temperatures and wear.
- The engines used in the Cup and GT3 cars are similar. If you exit the corner at a lower speed than in the GT3 car, you will also arrive at the next braking point at a lower speed, so adjust your braking points accordingly.
Final Thoughts
Although the single-make cars in ACC may look similar to popular GT3s, they offer unique driving challenges. Because of limited electronic assistance or aero, these cars require skill and precision for the most performance.
Be sure to check out Coach Dave Academy’s ACC setup subscription that includes setups for all of these cars and every circuit or individual setup package dedicated to the BMW CS Racing, Ferrari 488 Challenge EVO, the Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo EVO2 or the Porsche 992 GT3 Cup.
