How to Record Lap Deltas in ACC (Assetto Corsa Competizione)

For sim racing enthusiasts, recording and analyzing lap deltas is a fundamental part of improving performance on the track. In Assetto Corsa Competizione (ACC), a title renowned for its realism and competitive racing environment, understanding how to efficiently utilize lap deltas can make the difference between a mid-pack finish and a podium. In this guide, we’ll explore how to record lap deltas, why they matter, and some tools and tips to make the most of this feature.

What Are Lap Deltas?

Before diving into the specifics, it’s important to understand what lap deltas are. A lap delta refers to the difference in time between your current lap and a reference lap. This time difference offers valuable insights into how your performance is improving or worsening throughout a lap. In essence, it serves as a real-time performance indicator.

The reference lap could be your best previous lap, an ideal theoretical lap based on your sector times, or even the lap of another player during an online session. For sim racers, analyzing these differences helps in identifying areas for improvement, such as braking points, ideal corner entries, or better exit speeds.

Enabling Lap Delta in ACC

Assetto Corsa Competizione provides built-in tools to display and track lap deltas. Follow the steps below to ensure you can capture accurate and useful delta information:

  1. Turn on the HUD:

    Start by ensuring the in-game HUD is enabled. Go to the game’s options menu and navigate to the View Settings. Here, you can toggle HUD elements such as the delta bar.

  2. Find the Delta Bar:

    Most HUD configurations in ACC include a delta bar by default. This feature typically appears as a horizontal bar showing the time gained or lost relative to your reference lap. You can customize its location on the screen by modifying your HUD layout in the Customize HUD menu.

  3. Select the Reference Lap:

    By default, ACC uses your personal best lap from the session as the reference. However, you can update this when racing online. For instance, if you want to compare your current lap against another player’s lap, ACC can automatically switch the reference to their lap time.

Using External Tools for Advanced Analytics

While the in-game lap delta feature provides basic functionality, many advanced sim racers utilize external tools to expand their analysis. These tools deliver a deeper dive into telemetry and allow racers to gain even more insights into their performance:

  • Motec:

    One of the most popular tools in the ACC community, Motec, provides incredibly detailed telemetry analysis. By exporting data from ACC to Motec, you can break down individual sectors, throttle input, brake pressure, and much more — all of which can contribute to better understanding your delta times.

  • SimHub:

    SimHub is another great resource that allows racers to customize dashboards and get real-time telemetry, including detailed delta overlays. It’s especially handy if you prefer to have delta information on a second monitor or tablet.

Tips to Optimize Lap Delta Tracking

To get the most out of lap deltas, here are some tips and tricks to incorporate into your ACC racing sessions:

  • Warm Up Before Pushing for Deltas: Always ensure your tires and brakes are up to temperature before attempting a fast lap. Cold tires and brakes can lead to inconsistent delta comparisons.
  • Focus on Consistency First: Before looking to improve specific corners or sectors, aim to achieve consistent lap times. Deltas can only highlight improvements if you have a stable baseline to compare against.
  • Review Telemetry After Sessions: Post-race analysis can uncover patterns your real-time view can’t identify. Spend time reviewing where you gained or lost time, and work on those particular areas in practice sessions.

Conclusion

Recording and analyzing lap deltas in Assetto Corsa Competizione is not just about shaving off fractions of a second — it’s about refining your entire approach to racing. By fully leveraging the in-game delta bar, customizing your HUD, and delving into external tools for detailed telemetry analysis, you can uncover areas for improvement and reach your full potential on the track.

Remember, the key to better lap times is consistency, patience, and a willingness to learn from your mistakes. Whether you’re a seasoned sim racer or just starting, lap delta tracking gives you the tools you need to compete smarter and faster. So go ahead, record those deltas, and start your journey toward peak performance!