Hahn Air Base has an interesting history and an uncertain future. In Assetto Corsa, however, it stands out as an enormously creative track mod, thanks to RaceDepartment member christoph1954.
Their peak has certainly passed these days, but airfield circuits used to be quite popular around the world. Older racers and fans have fond memories Cleveland’s Burke Lakefront Airport and its IndyCar/CART/Champ Car events or classic DTM venues like Kassel-Calden and Diepholz. Circuits on former airfields can still be found frequently, with Silverstone and Sebring arguably being the most popular examples.
Racing fans and sim racers probably often think about how to put a race track in a certain spot and what it would look like. In fact, there is an entire sub-forum on Reddit dedicated to designing racing circuits, including in real-life surroundings. One of the best parts of sim racing and its modding scene is the realization of such circuits that would otherwise never be.
RaceDepartment user @christoph1954 has done just that with their Hahn Air Base mod for Assetto Corsa. It is set at the Frankfurt-Hahn Airport, which had been a base of the United States Air Force from 1952 to 1993. Ironically, it is not even located close to Frankfurt am Main, instead being 124 km away from the city. It has been named this way due to its purpose of relieving Frankfurt’s actual airport of air traffic originally.
Now, how many mod tracks come with free open air museum?
According to the track description, they grew up in the area and visited the base several times as a kid. With air shows having left a deep impression of the venue on their mind, they designed a track there using the runway, service roads and surrounding public roads.
The result is a highly interesting track on real roads that likely would never host actual races these days, especially since it is lacking any sort of barriers other than the armco along the public roads, planes parked everywhere and tons of hangars to slam into at high speeds. That does not matter in the virtual space, though.
Hahn Air Base knows how to bring the spectacle not just on the track.
Having started life as a single-layout location, Hahn Air Base for Assetto Corsa has grown considerably since then. A karting track, which had actually been close to the airport in the past, has now been added, but adjusted to feel more like a Rallycross circuit, including tarmac and dirt variants.
Meanwhile, the racing layout received a track day option, which includes an airshow. Yup – actual planes and helicopters flying around the venue, spraying colored smoke and wowing drivers along the way. Additionally, a slightly longer racing layout has been added, which skips the runways and incorporates more of the surrounding public roads. Apart from some signs pointing you in the right direction along the way and roads being blocked off, these layouts have no racing prep whatsoever, giving a lap more of a 1950s feel – save for the jet fighters and modern planes, that is.
Do whatever you feel like in the free roam layout. Even if it includes imitating takeoff.
For anything you do at Hahn Air Base in AC, though, beware of the bumps. Of course, being an airfield, the roads are not exactly smooth. And the right-hand sweeper that takes you onto the runway proper has some really nasty bumps towards the outside that can just throw your car off the track.
Not that it matters too much – airports tend to have lots and lots of space, so you probably will not hit anything. The surrounding roads, however… Well, it is best that you find that out yourself. Head over to the RD download section to grab Hahn Air Base – it has already been downloaded over 10,000 times.
Do you want downforce or lift? Tough choice…
Have you tried Hahn Air Base in Assetto Corsa already? Let us know your thoughts on the project on Twitter @OverTake_gg or in the comments below!
Their peak has certainly passed these days, but airfield circuits used to be quite popular around the world. Older racers and fans have fond memories Cleveland’s Burke Lakefront Airport and its IndyCar/CART/Champ Car events or classic DTM venues like Kassel-Calden and Diepholz. Circuits on former airfields can still be found frequently, with Silverstone and Sebring arguably being the most popular examples.
Racing fans and sim racers probably often think about how to put a race track in a certain spot and what it would look like. In fact, there is an entire sub-forum on Reddit dedicated to designing racing circuits, including in real-life surroundings. One of the best parts of sim racing and its modding scene is the realization of such circuits that would otherwise never be.
RaceDepartment user @christoph1954 has done just that with their Hahn Air Base mod for Assetto Corsa. It is set at the Frankfurt-Hahn Airport, which had been a base of the United States Air Force from 1952 to 1993. Ironically, it is not even located close to Frankfurt am Main, instead being 124 km away from the city. It has been named this way due to its purpose of relieving Frankfurt’s actual airport of air traffic originally.
Now, how many mod tracks come with free open air museum?
Hahn Air Base: Imagine There Was A Track Here…
How did an Assetto Corsa track pop up using this location as a base, though? Well, the airport is facing an uncertain future and could be closed soon, as main tenant Ryanair has moved out, and usage of the airport trends downwards. This got christoph1954 thinking.According to the track description, they grew up in the area and visited the base several times as a kid. With air shows having left a deep impression of the venue on their mind, they designed a track there using the runway, service roads and surrounding public roads.
The result is a highly interesting track on real roads that likely would never host actual races these days, especially since it is lacking any sort of barriers other than the armco along the public roads, planes parked everywhere and tons of hangars to slam into at high speeds. That does not matter in the virtual space, though.
Hahn Air Base knows how to bring the spectacle not just on the track.
Multiple Layouts & Air Show
And that results in an exciting lap past model exhibits of fighter jets, cargo planes, the village of Hahn itself, and even more. Originally uploaded to RaceDepartment in September of 2022, the track has received several updates, most recently on March 12, 2024.Having started life as a single-layout location, Hahn Air Base for Assetto Corsa has grown considerably since then. A karting track, which had actually been close to the airport in the past, has now been added, but adjusted to feel more like a Rallycross circuit, including tarmac and dirt variants.
Meanwhile, the racing layout received a track day option, which includes an airshow. Yup – actual planes and helicopters flying around the venue, spraying colored smoke and wowing drivers along the way. Additionally, a slightly longer racing layout has been added, which skips the runways and incorporates more of the surrounding public roads. Apart from some signs pointing you in the right direction along the way and roads being blocked off, these layouts have no racing prep whatsoever, giving a lap more of a 1950s feel – save for the jet fighters and modern planes, that is.
Do whatever you feel like in the free roam layout. Even if it includes imitating takeoff.
Hahn Air Base: Free Roam Explorers Welcome
That is not even all, however. Have you ever found yourself wanting to explore an airport in your favorite car? You can do just that, as Hahn Air Base for Assetto Corsa also features a free roam layout that also incorporates the air show. Traffic mods can be used to further make the airport come alive – perfect for your leisurely evening hoon running in between and under parked planes.For anything you do at Hahn Air Base in AC, though, beware of the bumps. Of course, being an airfield, the roads are not exactly smooth. And the right-hand sweeper that takes you onto the runway proper has some really nasty bumps towards the outside that can just throw your car off the track.
Not that it matters too much – airports tend to have lots and lots of space, so you probably will not hit anything. The surrounding roads, however… Well, it is best that you find that out yourself. Head over to the RD download section to grab Hahn Air Base – it has already been downloaded over 10,000 times.
Do you want downforce or lift? Tough choice…
Have you tried Hahn Air Base in Assetto Corsa already? Let us know your thoughts on the project on Twitter @OverTake_gg or in the comments below!
