Hands-on: What to expect from Assetto Corsa EVO’s first GT3 car

So far, each Assetto Corsa game has featured GT3 machinery, be it the original or the GT World Challenge spin-off, Assetto Corsa Competizione.

That title (ACC) in particular is renowned for its GT3 focus, or rather, this car category is the most driven on the sim.

So when the third title, Assetto Corsa EVO, launched into early access without the ubiquitous racing class, it felt like a clear way to distinguish the new title from the old.

But, in the next 0.3 update, alongside the likes of the Dallara Stradale road-legal sports car, will come the inaugural GT3 car – the BMW M4 GT3 Evo.

“It will drive differently to Competizione, EVO represents a proper evolution from Competizione in terms of handling, so every single aspect from the tyre model to the aerodynamics,” explains developer Kunos Simulazioni’s Co-founder and Executive Manager Marco Massarutto to Traxion, when asked about the EVO’s GT3 driving experience.

“Of course, it cannot be completely different because if the same company makes a similar car, and it behaves in a totally different way, it means that we were either wrong then or we are wrong now.

“Personally, I find that the car dashboard is more understandable, because you get more information from the physics and the steering wheel, so you can understand even better what the car is doing.”

Our hands-on

Traxion is not at the 24 Hours of Spa event, where a work-in-progress build of the M4 GT3 can be tested; however, our sister company Grid Finder’s Pranav Kalavala is there and has already had a brief go. His comments seem to align with Massarutto’s.

“The steering feels much more direct than the previous update, a lot more intuitive on entry phase, and I could feel track compressions far better,” explained Kalavala, who is also the manager of Assetto Corsa Competizione esports squad Visceral Esports.

“In Assetto Corsa Competizione, the first few degrees of steering feel spongy to me in comparison, and I suggest that a lot of work has gone into EVO to change this. Braking and how it translates to rotation is much more intuitive, too.”

Kalavala also noted that the Spa-Francorchamps model is a noticeable step forward, a more modern interpretation with the updated layout.

“Kerbs have the classic ACC feel, and one element I think disappointingly hasn’t moved on from that game yet is the BMW engine sound, which at this test, I felt sounded the same.”

The M4’s presence in EVO now opens the floodgates to further contemporary race cars.

“I can tell you that it’s not going to be the last GT3 car for EVO,” concludes Massarutto.