An Assetto Corsa server makes sense if you want to run races, track days, or league nights with fixed rules. At game-serverhosting, you rent a preconfigured Dedicated Server for this and control tracks, vehicles, slots, sessions, realism options, and mods precisely through the panel, file manager, and configuration files.
Requirements
You need Assetto Corsa on PC, the desired tracks and vehicles installed by all participants, and access to the game-serverhosting panel. In many cases, the guided editor and file manager are enough for administration. If you want to control every setting, you also edit server_cfg.ini and entry_list.ini.
The official Dedicated Server is listed on Steam as its own app: documentation at store.steampowered.com. This source is important because it confirms that Assetto Corsa uses a separate Dedicated Server download. At game-serverhosting, you do not have to run SteamCMD and the installation yourself; the server environment is provided for you.
If you are also planning other survival or sandbox servers, you will find comparable basics in the guide Rent a Minecraft Server: The Complete Guide 2025 and in the co-op guide Rent and Set Up a Valheim Server.
Order and start the server
Select Assetto Corsa in the order wizard and open the server management page in the panel after provisioning. There you will see the status, connection details, and the assigned ports. Wait until the server is shown as ready before changing configurations.
For file changes, the rule is: stop the server first, change the configuration, save, and then restart it. This prevents running processes from overwriting your changes or the server starting with a half-finished configuration.
Guided configuration editor in the panel
The fastest route is through the guided editor in the game-serverhosting panel. There you set player count, session rules, ABS, traction control, damage, fuel consumption, tire wear, and setup options through form fields. Changes become active after a restart.
If you only run standard races with known vehicles, the editor is often enough. For mod tracks, fixed driver slots, or exact file tuning, you should check the following files.
Required files in the cfg directory
Assetto Corsa mainly uses cfg/server_cfg.ini and cfg/entry_list.ini. The first file controls the server name, track, vehicle list, ports, rules, and sessions. The second file defines the individual vehicle slots.
Configure server_cfg.ini
[SERVER]
NAME=My AC Server
CARS=ks_mazda_mx5_nd;ks_bmw_m3_e92
TRACK=ks_nordschleife
TRACK_LAYOUT=
MAX_CLIENTS=16
RACE_OVER_TIME=60
ALLOWED_TYRES_OUT=2
ABS_ALLOWED=1
TC_ALLOWED=1
STABILITY_ALLOWED=0
AUTOCLUTCH_ALLOWED=1
TYRE_BLANKETS_ALLOWED=1
FORCE_VIRTUAL_MIRROR=0
REGISTER_TO_LOBBY=1
PICKUP_MODE_ENABLED=1
SLEEP_TIME=1
VOTING_QUORUM=75
VOTE_DURATION=20
BLACKLIST_MODE=0
CLIENT_SEND_INTERVAL_HZ=18
DAMAGE_MULTIPLIER=100
FUEL_RATE=100
TYRE_WEAR_RATE=100
PASSWORD=
ADMIN_PASSWORD=myAdminPassword
HTTP_PORT=8081
UDP_PORT=9600
TCP_PORT=9600
MAX_BALLAST_KG=0
The most important values are CARS, TRACK, MAX_CLIENTS, PASSWORD, ADMIN_PASSWORD, TCP_PORT, UDP_PORT, and HTTP_PORT. CARS is a semicolon-separated list of vehicle folder names. TRACK corresponds to the folder name of the track. The default ports are 9600 for TCP/UDP and 8081 for HTTP; you can find the actually assigned ports in the panel.
Create entry_list.ini
[CAR_0]
MODEL=ks_mazda_mx5_nd
SKIN=red
SPECTATOR_MODE=0
DRIVER_NAME=
DRIVER_TEAM=
DRIVER_GUID=
[CAR_1]
MODEL=ks_bmw_m3_e92
SKIN=white
SPECTATOR_MODE=0
DRIVER_NAME=
DRIVER_TEAM=
DRIVER_GUID=
There should be a [CAR_N] entry for every slot from MAX_CLIENTS. Open slots remain without DRIVER_NAME and DRIVER_GUID. For league races, you can fill DRIVER_GUID with a driver's SteamID64 so that a vehicle is assigned permanently.
Configure sessions
[PRACTICE]
NAME=Free Practice
TIME=30
IS_OPEN=1
[QUALIFY]
NAME=Qualifying
TIME=15
IS_OPEN=1
[RACE]
LAPS=10
WAIT_TIME=60
IS_OPEN=0
TIME means minutes, LAPS means the race distance in laps. With IS_OPEN=1, players can join during the session. For closed races, set the race session to IS_OPEN=0 so late joins do not interfere with the ongoing competition.
Add tracks, vehicles, and mods
Kunos content with the ks_ prefix is common in the Dedicated Server context. Mods must be uploaded separately and installed identically by all drivers. Extract the mod archive locally, upload tracks to content/tracks/ and vehicles to content/cars/, and then enter the exact folder name in server_cfg.ini or entry_list.ini.
| Source | Content |
|---|---|
| RaceDepartment (racedepartment.com) | Tracks, cars, skins — large community library |
| AC Discord | Curated mod lists for leagues |
| Kunos-owned content | Preferred base for stable standard races |
Restart the server after every upload. Pay special attention to uppercase and lowercase letters because Linux file systems can distinguish between Track and track.
Use Content Manager
Content Manager from content-manager.io is a popular unofficial frontend for Assetto Corsa. You use it locally on your PC, not as a replacement for the game-serverhosting panel. It is useful for presets, vehicle selection, skin lists, session planning, and checking whether your local client configuration matches the server configuration.
For server operation, the panel remains the central place for status, restarts, file access, and connection details. Use Content Manager as a supplement if you want to prepare setups or test on the client side.
Check ports and connection
| Port | Protocol | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 9600 | TCP | Player connections |
| 9600 | UDP | Player data stream |
| 8081 | TCP | HTTP manager interface |
At game-serverhosting, the required ports are prepared server-side. Still, always use the port details from your panel because they can differ depending on the instance.
After the restart, first check whether the server runs without errors. Then test the lobby listing, direct join by IP/port, vehicle selection, and a short session with at least one client. If mods are used, a second player with a fresh mod installation should join so checksum problems show up early.
Troubleshooting
Server does not appear in the lobby
Set REGISTER_TO_LOBBY=1 and check the ports shown in the panel. If the lobby updates with a delay, also test direct join by IP and port.
Vehicle or track is not recognized
Compare the entry in CARS, TRACK, and MODEL exactly with the folder name under content/cars/ or content/tracks/. Watch uppercase/lowercase spelling and remove accidental spaces.
Players receive “Wrong checksum”
Server and client are not using the same mod version or have different files. Distribute the same mod source to all drivers and replace old versions completely instead of only overwriting them.
Server does not start after changes
Check for missing semicolons in CARS, invalid port values, wrong sections, and the number of [CAR_N] blocks. As a test, switch back to a known Kunos track and a standard vehicle to rule out mod errors.
Checks, limits, and a safe rollback path
The guide “Rent and Configure an Assetto Corsa Server – Complete Guide” applies to the server type described in the article and the version state visible at the time of review. Menu names, available versions, mod or plugin compatibility, and required resources may differ after updates. Therefore, do not transfer any values unchecked to another game, loader, or server version.
Before making changes to the world, savegame, configuration, or extensions, create a backup of the affected files. Then change only one related step at a time and test it with the same client and server version you want to play with later.
| Checkpoint | Expected result | Abort and rollback path |
|---|---|---|
| Server start | The server reaches the ready state without a new error message. | If start errors occur, revert the change and restore the last backup. |
| Connection test | A test account can connect through the address shown in the panel. | If version or connection errors occur, compare version, port, and allowances again. |
| Function test | The specific changed function works without damaging existing world or game data. | If side effects occur, stop the server and restore the backed-up files. |
A successful single test is not a performance or availability guarantee. World size, mods, plugins, player count, network path, and simultaneous load can change the result. Document version, change, and test result so you can trace later deviations.
FAQ
Do I need my own Steam copy for the server?
For the Dedicated Server itself, you use the separate Steam app 302550. Players need Assetto Corsa as the game client to be able to join.
How many players should I set?
Base MAX_CLIENTS on your booked package, the track, and the race format. More vehicles mean more data traffic and more coordination for slots and mods.
Can I assign fixed vehicles to league drivers?
Yes. Enter the DRIVER_GUID in entry_list.ini for the desired slots. The slot is then bound to that driver.
Does every player have to install the same mods?
Yes. For mod tracks, vehicles, and skins, server and clients should use the same version. Otherwise, join errors or checksum messages are likely.
What is the difference between the panel and Content Manager?
The panel manages your rented server, files, restarts, and connection details. Content Manager runs locally on your PC and helps with presets, client configuration, and convenient Assetto Corsa management.
Conclusion
With a rented Assetto Corsa server, you control races much more precisely than through spontaneous lobbies. The key factors are a clean server_cfg.ini, a matching entry_list.ini, identical mod versions, and a short join test after every change. This lets you run track days, club races, or league sessions with traceable configuration and clear processes.