How to be Fast at Imola | Assetto Corsa Competizione Track Guide

Twisting, winding, flowing, demanding, technical, rhythmic… All words that can be used to accurately describe the magical Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari.
2020 saw the venue host a Grand Prix for the first time in 14 years, but this wasn’t the main news story surround Imola last year… Oh no. What everyone really cares about is that in November, the 2020 GT World Challenge Pack was released as DLC for Assetto Corsa Competizione. This meant we all gained access to this historic circuit via some GT cars in what is considered by many to be one of the best sims currently available. What a privilege.
In this video, I attempt to walk you through a qualifying lap of the circuit with the intention of helping you find those extra seconds you need to turn your top 10’s into wins. Spoiler alert; abuse the kerbs!
Here are some lap time goals to get you started on your path to glory:
Pro - 1:39.50
Pro-Am - 1:42.00
Am - 1:44.00
My time - 1:40.30
Do you have a favourite or least favourite corner on this circuit? Did I get it wrong? Make sure you let us know in the comments down below and don’t forget to check out the rest of our racing game content on the Traxion channel.
00:00 - Introduction
00:50 - Tamburello
01:55 - Villeneuve
02:36 - Tosa
03:08 - Piratella
03:45 - Acque Minerale
04:49 - Variante Alta
05:20 - Rivazza
06:27 - Full Lap
08:18 - Target Laptimes
08:30 - Conclusions
------------------------
Subscribe on KZbin: / traxiongg
Like us on Facebook: / traxiongg
Follow us on Twitter: / traxiongg
#Traxion #ACC #Imola Visit us at www.traxion.gg

[@zethyuen8859]

Your production quality is better than KZbinrs with 1 Mil Subs.

[@tadge-rico2238]

Most of my time time is spent in the 45's, occasionlly into 44's and a one-off sneak peak into a 43, and that was after tweaking the setup to where i felt comfortable going faster. Base agg. set-up only got me into high 47's. Yeah, i'm kinda slow but old age (50plus) takes the edge off your reaction speed. That and the fact I only started simming it about 6 months before ACC released. So the odds have been stacked against me right off the bat. Doesn't stop me from trying though.

[@TraxionGG]

Delighted to hear it! Have fun and welcome to the simracing community 🍻😊

[@speedwing29]

Nice age! 52 years delivered also 44 constant 🙂

[@speedwing29]

Nice! would even be better if you have the pedal map in the video. I'm learning and would like to know where and where not to brake, trail brake, use throttle. Thanks again!

[@rickyquanjr.8923]

Best breakdowns. Thanks!

[@NullnotVoid]

Brilliant track guide

[@dyssey-or2ix]

This is actually pretty neat! I'll have to try this

[@TraxionGG]

We love Imola! It's the track for the first race of rF2 GT Pro Series Season 3 on Monday as well! Gonna be crazy lol

[@MaartenPost88]

Thanks for the video! Now I know what to do. Hit the kerbs harder! My tune for the Ferrari Evo is very unstable on the kerbs, so i'll have to address that.

[@DunkdaHunk]

I'm new to acc and I jumped straight into lfm league. Next week is Imola and this track guide has been and will continue to be invaluable as i find a comfortable pace. First time round the track and I'm in the low 1:44s consistently, though I'm kept forgetting braking points for some of the corners, so once those are baked in I think 43s will be very achievable.....maybe even 42s. I'm gonna be depending on your content as I learn all the tracks :)(

[@TraxionGG]

Awesome to hear! I wish you the best of luck with all of your races, hope the track guides continue to help with preperation😊

[@DunkdaHunk]

@@TraxionGG today I hit a 1:41.9 in an lfm race. :)

[@kimbojimbo1892]

telemetrie for gas and breaking would be very helpful

[@shorty808100]

Coming from games like Gran Truismo I’m not used to being able to use the run off curbs you’ll get a track limits penalty in that game for extending a corner like RL

[@TraxionGG]

Yes it can be very different from one game to another! But that’s the same in real life too, different series and different circuits have different rules, you just have to adapt 😊

[@cmorin522]

What do you mean when you say put ur steering lock on? Does that mean steer as much as I can I’m using the Ferrari and have it set to 480 like I looked up. Hope to hear back from you I’m just starting on ACC on ps4 just don’t understand when when you say steering lock

[@fireonmytarget8937]

What is up with the popin shadows/etc around 1:31 I get the same thing in VR there is a bleacher at the end of a straight on Monza... all of a sudden all the spectators will render into the bleachers when it was empty from further down the straight. This is with every graphics slider maxed out, is it just a game engine issue?

[@l2edgjwt]

What is meant by “steering lock” in the context of this video?

[@ricwilki6254]

Does 1:46, pats self on back, watches video to see a 1:40…….. 😢

[@TraxionGG]

😂 A 1:46 isn't bad at all, takes the perfect conditions and a lot of experience to do a 1:40! Keep pushing, and good luck 😎

[@ebola1974]

Makes it look so easy, I'm only 6 seconds off that pace...

[@Suchac_cz]

If I try to drive over the kerbs with McLaren, I would fly all over the place 😂

[@lucafugnitto8929]

impossible take the yellow kerbs with Huracan, i've tried to fix bumpstop

[@sender4636]

Yeh same problem in the ferrari

[@tadge-rico2238]

Depending on your setup you may have to raise ride height front & rear, soften springs or both, then adjust dampers to suit or just adjust dampers. I realise this is still really quite a vague tip because it's down to the driver to feel what is going on. Watch your replay's of a practice session using the free camera (f7) to try to see what is happening. Listen too when you are in cockpit mode for scraping (ride too low) and/or loud bangs (suspension reaching end of travel). Try adjusting 1 thing at a time only. DO NOT change more than 1 at a time as this will only confuse you as to what changed what. Bumpstops aren't going to help here, in fact they'll do the opposite. They are meant to prevent/restrict the suspension from traveling beyond a certain point. They are meant to stabilise the car's aero platform i.e. stop the nose diving too far under heavy braking or the arse from sqatting too far when under high downforce. I hope this helps even just a little. Edit: as far as the bumpstops go. Once you do find a good compromise in the suspension to allow attacking the kerbs, then start to lower your bumpstops until they start affecting your hard work.

[@Duuggen]

I started out with the huracan and was very confused after looking at so many track guides telling me to abuse the curbs but it would send my car flying every time. I was doing around 1.42.5 laps back then. I switched to the Audi and i could instantly go over them with no problems and was setting low 1.42s and some 1.41.9s. I guess the huracan just isnt that good/consistent on imola.

[@nicoblechschmidt9112]

Same with the Mclaren or the benz with any setup... every time twitchi bitchi car

[@Inf3CteDv2]

Best I can manage is a 45.8 and most of the time I hit those sausage curbs dead on which throw me in the air and I lose time or control. I'm on controller though (Xbox). It's very hard with the stick to be precise and put the car where I want it. I assume the wheel makes this easier.

[@TraxionGG]

Awesome times with a controller, that’s really impressive! A wheel would definitely help with precision 😊

[@Icy20]

u probably have the wrong car for this track. Not all cars can handle curbs the same

[@Inf3CteDv2]

@@Icy20 I was using the Merc.

[@Icy20]

@@Inf3CteDv2 tried the merc. It was bumpy at the curbs. So its either a patch thing since the vid is old or a setup thing. I could do a mid 42 with the m4 2022 though

[@Inf3CteDv2]

@@Icy20 i was also thinking it could be die to a physics patch or something. Are you controller or wheel?

[@spikypikachu1162]

In my experience and what I suggest for anyone who wants to start off sim racing, start with the simcades first. Yes you can do arcade like need for speed and Forza horizon (Forza horizon is a bit more Arcady but does have very slight simulation feel it it). I say Arcady because then you’ll understand how to race and experience what it’s like going against other drivers online or AI and it’s just easier. Plus with Forza horizon you can use a steering wheel. After that I suggest go to gran turismo next for you to understand track limits and so on so you’re disciplined in it and not cutting corners. And understanding it’s physics of a real car (at least close to it). Then go to Forza Motorsport, understand the physics on that and track limits, then turn on simulation to understand what can cause what damage to your car when you mess up. And learn to be cautious at first around the track and around others. Then I suggest going to project cars 3 which is a bit more realistic although sadly a simcade technically. After that you may enter the actual simulators, although maybe not the top like Assetto Corsa or ACC or even iRacing but it’s up there. This is what I like to call basic simulation where it’s a sim yes but not as good as the top ones. First is the f1 games, they are sims but at times for some it isn’t a true sim experience. Then you have some of the Dirt Rally games, or almost any game from code masters. Code masters good (in my opinion) at making simulation racing games. You then have NASCAR heat series and ignition 21 (although from my experience ignition 21 you can pass due to it being wonky and not the best nascar game I’ve played. Willing to try it again so I may change what I say on here about it later on if it changes on me). Now we have the top sims, you’re all trained and ready up for the real deals. Yes you can hop onto any sim at any time. This list is just a good starter if you want to get serious in it but have no idea what you’re doing in it. First up is Project Cars 1 and 2 for further damage prevention to the car and understanding the further more realistic physics and damage of it. Then after that you have Assetto Corsa, a great game to understand the physics (and as in physics I mean handling of the car, the feel of the car, how it interacts with the road and tyre models and so on). Then you have rFactor series, Automabilista series, ACC, iRacing, and so on. Hope this is some use and hope everyone found this helpful if you’ve been looking into sim racing but are not too sure where to start!

[@DunkdaHunk]

I went from F1 games into ACC. Now I struggle with F1 games because it has so little feel compared to acc. I've found about 4 seconds a lap in pace since I started, which is nuts. When you first start you simply can't extract the potential of these vehicles. I'm very much at AM pace but I think given enough time I hope to be getting to pro-AM levels of pace. Also a big fan of the safety rating system and generally how most people race in acc. Considerably less toxic than F1 lobbies.

[@uvillanueva95]

I was thinking that I'm faster with my 1.42.2 best lap time 😂