Assetto Corsa EVO has received its Update 0.9, now live as a free download on Steam (PC). The update adds three new cars — including the long-requested Mazda RX-7 FD — online leaderboards with Hotlap and Hotstint events, and an updated tyre model for racing slicks, alongside a long list of improvements to physics, rendering and force feedback.

According to developer KUNOS Simulazioni, the update is another significant step toward the end of the Early Access cycle — but not the last one: the highly anticipated Free Roam mode is still on its way and will arrive before the full release.

Audi R8 and Mazda RX-7 FD headline the new cars

The simulator’s garage grows with three additions in Update 0.9:

• Audi R8 LMS GT2
• Audi R8 V10 performance quattro
• Mazda RX-7 FD Spirit R (Type A)

Online leaderboards with Hotlap and Hotstint

The new Special Events system introduces online leaderboards in two formats. In Hotlap, players can select nearby drivers directly from the MFD (multi-function display) and race against their delta in real time. In Hotstint, instead of the delta, the game shows the total gap to rivals at each sector line, offering a more dynamic read of the stint’s pace.

Both modes also feature an optional Limited Attempts function, which caps the number of recorded attempts tracked by the leaderboard — a way to recreate the pressure of a qualifying lap and a more race-like situation.

New tyre model and refined physics

On the simulation side, the highlight is the updated tyre model for racing slicks, initially deployed on GT racing cars. The limited-slip differential (LSD) simulation has also been improved, with new friction face adjustment in the car setup, and the throttle model has been refined on newly released cars — improvements that will be gradually expanded to the rest of the garage.

Mandatory pit stops and gameplay tweaks

Update 0.9 implements mandatory pit stop requirements in multiplayer, with a selectable pit window in timed races longer than 20 minutes. In single player, a new damage rate option joins the assist settings. The patch also fixes issues such as suspension repair removing bodywork damage and raindrops lingering on the windshield after wet sessions.

Graphics, DLSS/FSR and force feedback

The graphics package brings a visual representation of wind, new temporal dithering that works better with DLSS and FSR, and “exposure fusion,” a feature that mimics how the human eye adapts to light. The view settings menu now allows exposure and post-processing adjustments with a live preview, directly on track.

For wheel users, the update improves force feedback device recovery after disconnects or alt-tabbing (DirectInput, Fanatec, Logitech and Thrustmaster), while Logitech’s TrueForce gains new filtering and now survives reconnections.

Free Roam is still coming — just not yet

Despite the volume of new content, KUNOS Simulazioni was keen to manage expectations: Update 0.9 does not mark the end of Early Access.

“We want to be upfront: Update 0.9 will not mark the final release of the Early Access Program. Free Roam is still very much on the way and will be part of Assetto Corsa EVO during Early Access,” the studio said in the official Steam post.

Available in Steam Early Access since January 2025 for $39.99, Assetto Corsa EVO continues its steady cadence of major updates — version 0.8, released in July, overhauled VR mode and expanded user-generated content.