Welcome to this new article where you'll discover the Engine Placement and Weight Distribution in ACC.
Let's get started!
As you know, Assetto Corsa Competizione is a racing simulator focused on GT cars built according to SRO (Stephane Ratel Organisation) technical regulations, with a few exceptions like the BMW M2 CS.
These technical regulations include categories like GT3 and GT4.
In short, the difference between GT3 and GT4 cars is both aerodynamic and engine-related (GT4 cars are much less aero-sensitive and have less power).
Moreover, GT4 cars are closely related to their road-going counterparts, unlike GT3 cars which share very little with the street cars they’re based on.
The regulations mandate some common points for all homologated cars but leave a lot of room for manufacturers and their engineers to work on the base model and transform it into a beast capable of delivering over 500 horsepower.
One of the areas where engineers have free rein is engine placement.
Not all cars have the engine located in the same place, far from it.
And now, we're going to show you the three main types of engine placement in Assetto Corsa Competizione.
The 3 Types of Engine Placement
Front Engine: The engine is located in the front-center of the car, so just behind the cockpit. Front engine, like you’d find in everyday cars.
Some of the front-engine cars in ACC are: Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT3, Bentley Continental GT3, BMW M4 GT3, Lexus RC F GT3, Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo 2020, Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT4, BMW M4 GT4, Chevrolet Camaro GT4, Ginetta G55 GT4, and Mercedes-AMG GT4.
Mid Engine: The engine is placed in the mid-rear part of the car, right behind the driver.
Some mid-engine cars in ACC are: Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II, Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo, Ferrari 296 GT3, Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo II, McLaren 720S GT3 Evo, Alpine A110 GT4, and Audi R8 LMS GT4.
Rear Engine: The engine is placed in the rear of the car, right behind the rear wheels, essentially hanging over the back.
Rear-engine cars are Porsche’s specialty, and indeed, the 992 GT3 R is the prime example of rear-engine cars in ACC.
How Does Engine Placement Affect Driving and Setup?
Now that we understand the three types of engine placement, let’s see how this affects driving and setup.
Let’s start with the concept of Weight Distribution, which is the distribution of weight between the front and rear of your car.
Clearly, if the engine is at the front, middle, or rear, the weight distribution changes.
Here are a couple of examples to make it clearer.
Imagine you need to divide 100 points of weight distribution between the front and rear.
How would you distribute them in a rear-engine car like the Porsche 992 GT3 II?
More weight goes to the rear because the car, with the engine at the back, is heavier in that area.
Specifically, the weight distribution in a Porsche 992 GT3 II is 39% front and 61% rear.
Now, imagine distributing the weight in a mid-engine car like the McLaren 720S GT3 Evo or BMW M4 GT3.
The weight is evenly distributed: 50% front, 50% rear.
Now to the crucial question:
How much does a car’s Weight Distribution affect driving and setup?
100%.
In fact, it’s the weight distribution that determines a car’s basic behavior and initial setup.
At this moment, if you have a favorite car, it’s likely due to its weight distribution, which, as mentioned, dictates the driving and setup platform of the car itself.
However, it may not remain your favorite.
We assure you that by understanding this detail and how weight distribution technically affects driving and setup, you’ll be able to understand and drive any type of car in Assetto Corsa Competizione.
And we can help you in this process.
First, we invite you to read other posts on our blog by clicking the button you'll find below:
See you soon!