Beyond the download kings and fan favorites, there are more than enough high-quality tracks which deserve our time and attention. Hence, here we present 6 Hidden Gem Track Mods for Assetto Corsa.
When it comes to modding and moddability, Assetto Corsa is the undisputed king in the sim racing ring. On RaceDepartment, we store over 27,000 assets in the Assetto Corsa download section in total, with 3,000+ entries filed under "AC Tracks" alone. Good luck in keeping track of that! Admittedly, searching and filtering can help you to get a general notion of what is good or popular. However, the most downloaded does not automatically mean the best, does it?
LA Canyons by Phoenix77 is the most downloaded Assetto Corsa Track Mod on RaceDepartment. Image credit: Lucac26
Without a doubt, all of these track mods (as well as at least the next 50 in the charts) are awesome and should be in everybody's collection. Yet, beyond these download and fan favorites there are so many more beautiful tracks to explore and race on. One lifetime will hardly be enough to drive them all properly. And we still have to sleep and eat. So, as always, the solution is to choose.
Here we would therefore like to spotlight 6 Hidden Gem Track Mods for Assetto Corsa. You may not necessarily find them on page one of the charts - but they are simply too great and high quality to be left out.
Please also note that we are fully aware of the fact that such a list can only be subjective, or say, exemplary and incomplete. With the Assetto Corsa Tracks download section on RaceDepartment listing over 3,000 entries, how could it not? If there is one in there you have not tried yet but like, we will have done our job. Also, you are very welcome to share your Hidden Gem Track Mods for Assetto Corsa as well - after all, jewels need light to shine!
Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant 1969 by P_Cote. Image credit: P_Cote
Le Circuit Mt-Tremblant 1969 is P_Cote's recreation of this historic track at the peak of its popularity. Hence it sports the same famous and infamous characterics of its real-world counterpart, making it a true test of a driver's/sim racer's abilities. Flat-out turns, apexes on crests, sweeping esses, 90-degree bends and lots of elevation changes ("The Hump"!) make the 2.65 mile Grand Prix course perfect for all sorts of vintage racing cars from Minis to F1. Hence, this is our Hidden Gem Track Mod pick for Historic Racing in Assetto Corsa.
The Sachsenring is our pick for a Modern Hidden Gem Track Mod for Assetto Corsa. Image credit: Gunnar333
Gunnar333's version of the Sachsenring 2022 is our pick for a Modern Hidden Gem Track Mod. Absolutely stellar in quality, it even surpasses some Kunos' original circuits. Based on the look and feel of motorcycle racing, it features corner markers and curbs typical for bikers as well as a very flat, almost bumpfree surface. And as in reality the Sachsenring also hosts races of the GTMasters as well as the German variants of the Porsche Carrera Cup, TCM or Formula 4 series, Assetto Corsa players should find plenty of options to race their favorite cars here.
The Sachsenring 2022 is based on Gunnar333's original Sachsenring Track Mod for Assetto Corsa which launched in 2021. If you already have an older version and want to keep that - no worries! You can use them both, since this update is placed seperately as "Sachsenring 2022" in a different folder.
Originally made by DDF Racer for rFactor, Circuit Thermalito has been completely rebuilt from scratch to modern standards in stunning detail by Nukedrop (Tyrone), using hi-res laser scan data, drone footage and photographs of the area.
Tyrone's Circuit Thermalito is a high-quality fictional track mod suitable for all sorts of fast cars.
Tyrone describes the track's character as follows: "Winding its way between the walls along the water's edge, and through two tunnels in the dam itself, Circuit Thermalito features high-speed elevation changes, sweeping banked corners and slow speed technical sections which all come together to create an incredibly challenging, yet hugely rewarding driving experience."
Tyrone also gives a warning that, due to the drastic elevation changes, this track may not be suitable for AI Races against some of the top tier open-wheel race cars. Luckily, for humans this is not necessarily true, as this track is perfectly raceable also and especially with say modern Indycars or F1.
Clava Zete is conceived as a temporary hill climb course located in Bogetici, Montenegro. Image credit: Lemax
Located in Bogetici, Montenegro, Clava Zete is conceived as a temporary hill climb course of 6.95 km (4.31 mi) including six pit slots. It is a very challenging track to go fast on and hardly forgives any mistakes. Suitable for all cars of all sorts and eras - including buses!
Please note that the RaceDepartment download only includes the Clava Zete hill climb with the asphalt surface as this is the only free, yet fully functional version. All other versions are paid.
Arrabassada is a recreation of the real-life road connecting Barcelona city and Sant Cugat del Vallés City. Image credit: Simrac3r
Simrac3r's recreation of the site is jaw-dropping in terms of accuracy and quality. Everything is in its original place and the textures have been created specifically with real images. Arrabassada features the urban highway and goes up until the crossroad to Tibidabo or Sant Cugat, thus transitioning from completely urban to fully mountain road, including two oil stations, viewpoints, and parkings.
For whom and for which vehicles is this Free Roam Track worthwhile? Clear answer: Yes! Or even a YEEEESSS! if you drive during sunset or at night.
Please note that this track has two versions. While the freeroam version is for free (and hosted on RaceDepartment), the version with AI traffic is paid.
Hakone Ohiradai Touge was the first entry of the "90s Golden Drift Spot Project" back in 2017. Image credit: skyflightmusic
The 90s Golden Drift Spot Project is skyflightmusic's deliberate take on the "legendary drift locations in Japan, acknowledging people the real deals [that] happened in the late 80s and the early 90s, away from Initial D locations". The Project started in 2017 with "Hakone Ohiradai Touge (Upper course)". As of September 2023, there are eleven locations, with Koumori Touge being the latest addition.
Please note that most of these tracks have free as well as paid versions. All free versions can be downloaded on RaceDepartment, while the paid (full) versions are hosted elsewhere.
What are your favorite Hidden Gem Track Mods in Assetto Corsa? Let us know on Twitter @OverTake_gg or in the comments below!
When it comes to modding and moddability, Assetto Corsa is the undisputed king in the sim racing ring. On RaceDepartment, we store over 27,000 assets in the Assetto Corsa download section in total, with 3,000+ entries filed under "AC Tracks" alone. Good luck in keeping track of that! Admittedly, searching and filtering can help you to get a general notion of what is good or popular. However, the most downloaded does not automatically mean the best, does it?
Hidden Gem Track Mods: Beyond the Usual Suspects
Having said this, the free roamers LA Canyons and Pacific Coast as well as the Circuit 24H Lemans are the top 3 of the download chart. According to the user rating on the other hand, the best track mods for Assetto Corsa are Fat-Alfie's Feldbergring and Fonteny, again LA Canyons by Phoenix77 as well as Bridgehampton by LilSki.
Without a doubt, all of these track mods (as well as at least the next 50 in the charts) are awesome and should be in everybody's collection. Yet, beyond these download and fan favorites there are so many more beautiful tracks to explore and race on. One lifetime will hardly be enough to drive them all properly. And we still have to sleep and eat. So, as always, the solution is to choose.
Here we would therefore like to spotlight 6 Hidden Gem Track Mods for Assetto Corsa. You may not necessarily find them on page one of the charts - but they are simply too great and high quality to be left out.
One Hidden Gem Track Mod for Each Category
From historic to contemporary to fictional Track Racing, and from challenging Hillclimb to photorealistic Free Roam to iconic 90s Touge - here you will find one Hidden Gem Track Mod for every popular category in Assetto Corsa. All of the tracks can be downloaded for free on RaceDepartment. However, other or newer versions of some tracks may only be available on other portals for a fee. Where known, we will point this out.Please also note that we are fully aware of the fact that such a list can only be subjective, or say, exemplary and incomplete. With the Assetto Corsa Tracks download section on RaceDepartment listing over 3,000 entries, how could it not? If there is one in there you have not tried yet but like, we will have done our job. Also, you are very welcome to share your Hidden Gem Track Mods for Assetto Corsa as well - after all, jewels need light to shine!
Historic Hidden Gem Track Mod: Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant 1969
The Circuit Mont-Tremblant, also known as St. Jovite, is a classic road course in the stunningly picturesque Laurentian Mountains, about 80 miles north of Montréal, Canada. Opened in 1964, the circuit had its heydays in the following years. It hosted all sorts of racing events including Indycar and Formula One before it was outshined by other Canadian circuits and slipped into relative obscurity in the 1980s and 1990s.Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant 1969 by P_Cote. Image credit: P_CoteLe Circuit Mt-Tremblant 1969 is P_Cote's recreation of this historic track at the peak of its popularity. Hence it sports the same famous and infamous characterics of its real-world counterpart, making it a true test of a driver's/sim racer's abilities. Flat-out turns, apexes on crests, sweeping esses, 90-degree bends and lots of elevation changes ("The Hump"!) make the 2.65 mile Grand Prix course perfect for all sorts of vintage racing cars from Minis to F1. Hence, this is our Hidden Gem Track Mod pick for Historic Racing in Assetto Corsa.
Features and Highlights
- Release Date: 9 May 2022; Last Updated: 8 Sep 2022
- 4.218 km (2.621 mi), 15 turns
- Supports all driving modes (practice, hotlap, race, etc.)
- 28 pit boxes (historical), 34 for league grid
- League grid version with modern 8 m FIA spacing
- CSP Rain (tested with CSP version 0.1.78-preview 1)
- Fully detailed physical road mesh
- Custom grass FX with many local species
- Custom 2D spectators, many of which taken from period pictures at the track
- 3D modeled 20x20km area with surounding hills, mountains and lakes (no horizon wall)
- VAO patch
As Modern as It Gets: Sachsenring 2022
The Sachsenring is a motorsport racing circuit located in Hohenstein-Ernstthal near Chemnitz in Saxony, Germany. The inaugural race took place on 26 May 1927 on an 8.618 km (5.355 mi) layout on public roads. Nowadays, among other events, the Sachsenring features the annual German motorcycle Grand Prix of the FIM Grand Prix motorcycle racing world championship.The Sachsenring is our pick for a Modern Hidden Gem Track Mod for Assetto Corsa. Image credit: Gunnar333Gunnar333's version of the Sachsenring 2022 is our pick for a Modern Hidden Gem Track Mod. Absolutely stellar in quality, it even surpasses some Kunos' original circuits. Based on the look and feel of motorcycle racing, it features corner markers and curbs typical for bikers as well as a very flat, almost bumpfree surface. And as in reality the Sachsenring also hosts races of the GTMasters as well as the German variants of the Porsche Carrera Cup, TCM or Formula 4 series, Assetto Corsa players should find plenty of options to race their favorite cars here.
The Sachsenring 2022 is based on Gunnar333's original Sachsenring Track Mod for Assetto Corsa which launched in 2021. If you already have an older version and want to keep that - no worries! You can use them both, since this update is placed seperately as "Sachsenring 2022" in a different folder.
Features and Highlights
- Release Date: 9 April 2021; Last Updated: 30 Nov 2022
- 3,671 km (2,28 mi), 14 turns
- Modeled with Open LIDAR Data DGM1 and Google Earth Photogrammetry
- 3 layouts
- 3 different event skins (GT Masters 2018-2020)
- Seasons plus additional winter tree skin (CSP)
- Pit box garage doors are closed/open depending on amount of opponent cars.
- RainFX and Night Lighting (CSP)
- Further CSP-related FX: animated track marshals, camera jib and camera crew at pitlane area; animated helicopters, vehicles and the "wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man"; working digital clock texture on start gantry; working digital flags; working video screens; amount of spectators are CSP-adjusted
- Explorable track surroundings
Fantastic Fictional Track: Circuit Thermalito 2023
Circuit Thermalito by Tyrone has only come out on 6 November 2023 but is already storming the charts, proving that also fictional Track Mods can be of the highest quality and deliver big time! Circuit Thermalito is a 5.035 km temporary race track based on a real life location and uses the actual roads surrounding the Thermalito Dam in Oroville, California.Originally made by DDF Racer for rFactor, Circuit Thermalito has been completely rebuilt from scratch to modern standards in stunning detail by Nukedrop (Tyrone), using hi-res laser scan data, drone footage and photographs of the area.
Tyrone's Circuit Thermalito is a high-quality fictional track mod suitable for all sorts of fast cars.Tyrone describes the track's character as follows: "Winding its way between the walls along the water's edge, and through two tunnels in the dam itself, Circuit Thermalito features high-speed elevation changes, sweeping banked corners and slow speed technical sections which all come together to create an incredibly challenging, yet hugely rewarding driving experience."
Tyrone also gives a warning that, due to the drastic elevation changes, this track may not be suitable for AI Races against some of the top tier open-wheel race cars. Luckily, for humans this is not necessarily true, as this track is perfectly raceable also and especially with say modern Indycars or F1.
Features and Highlights
- Release Date: 6 Nov 2023; Last Updated: 4 Dec 2023
- 5,035 km (3,12 mi), 14 turns
- 3D grass and trees
- Full RainFX and full night lighting
- AI
- 44 grid slots
Climbing up the Hill: Clava Zete
Clava Zete by Lemax came out in 2014 and has received its last update more than five years ago. Admittedly, with 111,000 downloads it is also not a Hidden Gem in the strict sense of the word. However, compared to other Hillclimb Mods, Clava Zete is only a small light. We think: wrongly so. For us, this Hillclimb Gem definitely deserves the biggest stage and the brightest limelight!Clava Zete is conceived as a temporary hill climb course located in Bogetici, Montenegro. Image credit: LemaxLocated in Bogetici, Montenegro, Clava Zete is conceived as a temporary hill climb course of 6.95 km (4.31 mi) including six pit slots. It is a very challenging track to go fast on and hardly forgives any mistakes. Suitable for all cars of all sorts and eras - including buses!
Features and Highlights
- Release Date: 3 May 2014; Last Updated: 25 May 2018
- 6.95 km (4.31 mi)
- Pit Spots: 6
- High-Density Road Mesh
- High-Quality Textures
- 3D spectators
- 3D grass
- Working AI
- Trackside cameras
- LOD optimization
- 6 track versions (hillclimb (free); downhill; uphill&downhill rally/dirt; fictional gravel surface; uphill&downhill Autumn; pit spots: 14; retextured versions with 'colder' ambient and without spectators, cones, tires, etc. (all paid))
Please note that the RaceDepartment download only includes the Clava Zete hill climb with the asphalt surface as this is the only free, yet fully functional version. All other versions are paid.
Free Roam Hidden Gem Track Mod: Arrabassada
Arrabassada by Simrac3r is a recreation of the real-life road connecting Barcelona city and Sant Cugat del Vallés City. According to the author, it is also a meeting point for motor lovers and the main way to ascend to Mount Tibidabo, the highest point at Barcelona granting a view over the entire city.Arrabassada is a recreation of the real-life road connecting Barcelona city and Sant Cugat del Vallés City. Image credit: Simrac3rSimrac3r's recreation of the site is jaw-dropping in terms of accuracy and quality. Everything is in its original place and the textures have been created specifically with real images. Arrabassada features the urban highway and goes up until the crossroad to Tibidabo or Sant Cugat, thus transitioning from completely urban to fully mountain road, including two oil stations, viewpoints, and parkings.
For whom and for which vehicles is this Free Roam Track worthwhile? Clear answer: Yes! Or even a YEEEESSS! if you drive during sunset or at night.
Features and Highlights
- Release Date: 19 Dec 2022; Last Updated: 22 Dec 2022
- 5.25 km (3,26 mi)
- Pit Slots: 40
- High-Quality real textures
- Grass FX
- Rain FX
- Track cameras
- LOD optimization
- Functional traffic lights
- Night mode
Please note that this track has two versions. While the freeroam version is for free (and hosted on RaceDepartment), the version with AI traffic is paid.
Touge and Drifting Galore with 90s Golden Drift Spot Projects
Okay, connoisseurs of the Initial D franchise or the Japanese drift scene in general may now wave goodbye. But if you are, like me, one of those who have not had much to do with Touge yet, then you have come to the right place. Because even away from the original, now iconic Initial D stages around Mt Akina, there are at least eleven more exciting ways to show off your drifting skills in Assetto Corsa.Hakone Ohiradai Touge was the first entry of the "90s Golden Drift Spot Project" back in 2017. Image credit: skyflightmusicThe 90s Golden Drift Spot Project is skyflightmusic's deliberate take on the "legendary drift locations in Japan, acknowledging people the real deals [that] happened in the late 80s and the early 90s, away from Initial D locations". The Project started in 2017 with "Hakone Ohiradai Touge (Upper course)". As of September 2023, there are eleven locations, with Koumori Touge being the latest addition.
Features and Highlights
- Release Date: 9 Jul 2017 (#1 Hakone), Latest Release: 23 Sep 2023 (#11 Koumori)
- Pits
- Track cameras
- AI Lanes
- Functional traffic lights
- Night Mode
Please note that most of these tracks have free as well as paid versions. All free versions can be downloaded on RaceDepartment, while the paid (full) versions are hosted elsewhere.
What are your favorite Hidden Gem Track Mods in Assetto Corsa? Let us know on Twitter @OverTake_gg or in the comments below!
