5 Essential Tips for Beginners

Ask any seasoned driver and they’ll tell you, rally is the ultimate test of skill, focus, and adaptability. Unlike track racing, where every corner is memorised and predictable, rally driving demands that you master not just your car, but also the ever-changing terrain beneath it. Add to that the rapid-fire pace notes from your co-driver, and you’ve got one of the most complex and rewarding forms of motorsport to experience, even in simulation game.

Everyone starts somewhere and these five tips will help you understand the core mechanics, develop better habits, and most importantly, get the absolute most out of your rally sim experience.

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1. Pace Notes Are Your Lifeline

Rally driving isn’t about memorising tracks, it’s about reacting to information. Pace notes are your co-driver’s way of describing what’s coming up: corners, crests, jumps, cambers, and hazards. Understanding and trusting those calls is key to staying fast and safe.
Take the time to learn what each phrase means (for example: “5 Left over crest, into 3 Right tightens”) and how your game represents those notes. Once you can visualise the road based on your co-driver’s voice, your driving will transform from reactive to instinctive.
Check out our detailed Guide to Pace Notes to learn what each call means and how to interpret them effectively in Assetto Corsa Rally

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2. To Finish First, First You Have to Finish

Rallying rewards endurance and consistency far more than reckless speed. The fastest drivers are those who can stay smooth, composed, and damage-free from start to finish.
Ease into the throttle and brakes, especially on loose surfaces like gravel and dirt, and avoid hammering the pedals or controller triggers. Controlled inputs maintain traction and stability, helping you stay on the road and out of the ditches, or worse, trees...
Remember: the best rally stage is one you actually complete.

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3. Set Yourself Up for Success

Don’t dive straight into the deep end. Start with driver assists such as ABS and traction control to help you get comfortable. Gradually reduce them as you gain confidence and control.
Begin your journey with slower, more forgiving cars like the Mini Cooper or Peugeot 208. Aim to complete a full rally weekend on each surface type: tarmac, gravel, snow, before moving up through the more powerful car classes. A solid foundation here will make the faster vehicles feel much more manageable later on.

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4. Practice Makes Progress

Rally isn’t about instant mastery; it’s about learning, repetition, and refinement. Instead of hopping between countries, cars, or surfaces, focus on one car and one stage at a time.
Get familiar with how your car behaves under different conditions, how to recover from slides, and how to anticipate pace notes with split-second timing. Each attempt will make you smoother, faster, and more confident.
Incremental improvement is extremely satisfying in rally. Shaving seconds off a stage feels like a huge victory and that becomes an addiction.
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5. Embrace the Chaos — Damage and Mistakes Are Part of the Game

Crashes, dents, and mistakes aren’t failures, they’re lessons. Real rally drivers often finish stages with battered cars and huge smiles. Learning how to stay calm and adapt when things go wrong is one of the most valuable skills you can build.
Use the repair stages strategically and resist the urge to restart every time you mess up. Focus on improving your overall rally weekend times instead of chasing perfection on individual stages. Consistency beats perfection every time.

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So, buckle in, trust your co-driver, and get ready for the most thrilling test of virtual driving skill out there. See you in the stages!