New cars have joined Assetto Corsa Competizione, and players will be anxious to learn them. Here is your guide on how to drive the Ferrari 296 GT3 in ACC.
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Along with update 1.9 releasing last week for Assetto Corsa Competizione came the 2023 GT World Challenge Pack. Including the missing Valencia Ricardo Tormo track and a trio of new cars, it certainly satisfied many an ACC racer.
With new cars in the roster, players will be eager to get up to speed with both the Porsche 992 911 GT3 R and Ferrari 296 GT3. If you too want to learn each car’s quirks, strengths and weaknesses, you’re in the right place. Here is the first of two guides on the new cars. Today, find out how to drive the Ferrari 296 GT3 in ACC.
Ferrari 296 GT3 Facts
Following on from the successful 488, the Ferrari 296 GT3 is a new-for 2023 GT3 racer. This year, it will race in GT championships like GT World Challenge and GT Open. Next year, however, it will be eligible to compete at the fabled 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Under its technical yet beautifully sculpted body sits a brand new engine configuration for the Prancing Horse. The previous car’s twin-turbo V8 is out and is comes a turbocharged V6. It is good for around 600 horsepower depending on BOP configurations and a little over 700Nm of torque.
A six-speed transmission gives drivers plenty of power at any speed whilst the biggest improvements over the outgoing car concern electronics. In fact, the new car has much better traction control and ABS systems, something evident in the ACC representation of the Ferrari 296 GT3.
Setting up the Ferrari in ACC
Despite being a much improved model, the 296 drives fairly similarly to the 488 of old. The Italian Stallion positively rotates on a dime and unfortunately still sounds like a whale being smothered by a pillow.
This excellent rotation plays a big part in not only the driving of the car, but also the way one sets it up. In fact, due to the game’s latest tyre model iteration in which surface temperatures rise more when scrubbing, the car’s character can lead to negative effects during longer stints. In qualifying, the ease of rotation is brilliant for getting fast lap times. But, when it comes to the race, you may want to dial it down.
Those with precision control over their car may want to simply drive in a reserved way during races. But, for those of us with a heavy right foot, raising the tyre pressures in the race will help. This will reduce flexibility in the tyre sidewall, especially at the rear, in turn reducing the amount of slip.
Driving the Ferrari 296
Getting behind the wheel of a new car for the first time is always an uncertain experience. Will you get the hang of it from the get-go, or fire it into a wall after miss-judging a braking point?
Being a GT3 car, the Ferrari 296 in ACC should feel familiar. It drives similarly to the older 488, but everything is heightened in a way. The car responds much more to even the smallest inputs. As such, it’s important to stay smooth on the wheel and pedals. If you’re too aggressive on turn-in, the car will plough straight. On the other hand, if you make jerky movements or play with the throttle too much mid-corner, the rear wheels will soon end up in front of you.
The key is to play with this responsiveness and find the perfect middle ground. Sure, some slip to get the car turned in is good. But overdo it and you’ll either ruin your tyres or end up in the wall.
With this in mind, driving the Ferrari 296 GT3 in ACC is all about throttle modulation. Whilst making your way round a turn, it’s easy to pick up some slight understeer. But ever so slightly reducing the throttle pressure will transfer more weight to the front axle, helping to swing the rear around.
Throttle application is also crucial on corner exit. Due to the Fezza’s large turbos strapped to its V6 engine, it features a hefty amount of turbo lag. Certainly nothing like the monsters of Group C, it is enough to kill the car’s momentum before long straights.
Naturally aspirated cars like the Lamborghini Huracan and Porsche GT3 R both launch off turns easier than the 296. To counter the turbo lag as best as possible, it’s important to get the turbos spooling by applying the throttle early. In tighter hairpins, it might even be worth making a V out of your racing line. This should enable you to get on the gas earlier.
Overall, the Ferrari is a very fun car to drive, especially in qualifying when tyre life doesn’t matter. Throwing this car around smaller circuits like Valencia or the Hungaroring is certainly one of the great joys of simracing.
What tips do you have for racers starting out in the Ferrari 296 GT3 in ACC? Tell us on Twitter at @OverTake_gg or in the comments down below!
