The quick answer

How do you configure Assetto Corsa race sessions?

Open the server panel and select Sessions. Enable Practice, Qualification, and Race, then set each session’s duration and joining behavior. For the race, choose Laps or Time, set the race length, initial delay, completion window, result screen, join type, pit requirement, and reversed grid. Press Apply Sessions, wait for Sessions applied, restart the server, and run through the full rotation with a test driver.

For a first event, keep joining open during practice and qualifying, close race joining at the start, and test a short rotation before increasing the duration or lap count.

Step 1

Open Sessions and choose the event flow

From My Servers, manage the intended Assetto Corsa server and open Sessions. Each checked heading adds that phase to the event configuration. Leave only the phases you actually want drivers to complete.

Assetto Servers Sessions tab showing booking, practice, qualification, and race configuration controls — The Sessions tab controls the enabled phases, their timing, joining behavior, race format, and final Apply Sessions action.

PracticeGives drivers time to join, load the track, and prepare a setup.

QualificationCreates the timed session used to establish race order.

RaceRuns the main event by a chosen number of laps or minutes.

BookingOptional entry-registration controls for pickup and scheduled workflows.

Finish the lobby content first

Select the cars, track, layout, and entry count before finalizing session timing. Start with the complete server setup guide if the base lobby is not ready.

Step 2

Configure the practice session

Check Practice, choose a duration, and decide whether Can join should remain enabled. Open joining is the most forgiving choice for public events because late drivers can enter while everyone is learning the car and track.

1
Enable Practice.
Uncheck it only when the event should move directly into qualifying or the race.
2
Set the duration.
Use enough time for drivers to load, complete several laps, and address setup problems.
3
Choose Can join.
Keep it enabled for casual or public sessions; close it only for a tightly controlled event flow.

Useful starting point

Try 20–30 minutes for a normal community race test. Shorten it after the group consistently joins and loads without trouble.

Step 3

Configure the qualifying session

Check Qualification and choose how long drivers have to set a lap. The session should be long enough for an out lap and more than one representative attempt on the selected circuit.

Setting	What to decide	Practical starting point
Qualification	Whether the rotation includes a timed qualifying phase.	Enable it for races that need a qualifying-based grid.
Duration	How much qualifying time the drivers receive.	Allow at least an out lap and two timed laps.
Can join	Whether late drivers may connect during qualifying.	Leave enabled for public events; close it for controlled leagues if required.
Qualify limit	The server’s qualifying completion limit value.	Keep 120% until the event has tested a different requirement.

Account for track length

A five-minute qualifying session may be unusable on a long circuit. Time one complete out lap and flying lap before choosing the final duration.

Step 4

Configure the race session

Check Race, then define the main event. The correct settings depend on the track, expected field size, and whether the community is running a casual sprint, a league round, or a longer race with pit strategy.

1
Choose Limit by.
Select Laps for a fixed lap count or Time for a timed event.
2
Set the race value.
Choose the number of laps or minutes shown by the control after selecting the limit type.
3
Set Initial delay.
Give the grid enough time to load and prepare before the start sequence.
4
Review Race over and Result screen.
Leave enough time for trailing cars to finish and for drivers to read the final result.
5
Choose Join type.
Use Close at start for a normal competitive race, or another available mode when the event specifically needs it.
6
Set pit and grid options.
Enable Mandatory pit only when pit strategy is part of the event, and choose how many cars should be reversed.

Match the race length to fuel and tyres

Before requiring a pit stop, confirm the fuel rate and tyre wear in the server rules guide. Use the weather and time guide to test the event conditions separately.

Step 5

Apply Sessions, restart, and test the full rotation

1
Press Apply Sessions.
Wait for the panel to report Sessions applied before leaving the tab.
2
Restart the server.
Use Restart in the panel header so the server loads the updated session configuration.
3
Join during practice.
Confirm the intended session is active and that joining works as configured.
4
Advance through qualifying.
Verify its duration, late-join behavior, and transition into the race.
5
Complete the race.
Check the start delay, lap or time limit, pit behavior, finish window, results, and next rotation.

Only the intended sessions are enabled. Practice and qualifying use the expected durations. Drivers can or cannot join each phase as configured. The race uses the correct lap count or time limit. Pit and reversed-grid settings behave as expected. The server advances cleanly through the complete rotation.

Use short values for the first test

A five-minute practice, five-minute qualifying session, and short race reveal transition problems much faster than waiting through the full event schedule.

FAQ

Assetto Corsa session configuration questions

Do I need practice, qualifying, and race enabled?

No. Enable only the phases your event needs. A practice-only server works well for track days, testing, drifting, and casual driving.

Should drivers be able to join during qualifying?

For public and casual events, allowing joins is usually more forgiving. Controlled leagues may close joining once the scheduled session begins.

Should a race be limited by laps or time?

Use laps when the exact number of circuits matters. Use time when the schedule needs a predictable race window across tracks with different lap lengths.

What does Booking control?

Booking provides entry-registration controls, including duration, pickup-mode entry locking, and loop mode. Leave the existing values unless the event specifically uses a booking workflow.

What does Reversed grid change?

It reverses the configured number of leading grid positions. Keep it at zero for a normal qualifying order, and test any reversal before a competitive event.

When should I enable Mandatory pit?

Enable it only when the race format is designed around a required stop. Confirm the race distance, fuel rate, tyre wear, and pit behavior during a complete test.

Why did the old session settings remain active?

Make sure Apply Sessions completed successfully, then restart the server. If the problem remains, reload the Sessions tab and confirm the saved values before applying again.

Can I save this event setup for later?

The Content tab supports presets that can keep the content and related managed settings together. Review the Sessions tab after loading a preset and before starting the event.

Build the complete event

Test the rotation before race night

Start with short sessions, verify every transition with another driver, and then apply the final practice, qualifying, and race lengths.

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