Assetto Corsa Rally: Prepare your Thrustmaster setup for rally simulation
The world of car racing simulation is about to undergo a major shift. After years of dominating the track, renowned developer KUNOS Simulazioni is turning its attention to off-road racing. Assetto Corsa Rally has been released in early access, offering a unique driving experience that’s more demanding and realistic than ever before. For fans of thrilling sensations and pure driving, now’s the time to get your cockpit ready.
The triumphant return of a cult franchise
Since its launch in 2014, Assetto Corsa has built a solid reputation as a demanding game designed for purists. Its super-precise physics engine and open approach to modding quickly won over fans of realistic driving. After a second installment focused on GT racing, KUNOS Simulazioni is now surprising everyone with a rally-oriented version.
Assetto Corsa Rally doesn’t just offer a simple change of terrain. The Italian studio has redesigned its physics to incorporate management of uneven surfaces — gravel, mud, snow — and offer natural, authentic sliding sensations. Each turn and every weight transfer becomes an incredibly precise battle between grip and drifting. And to fully enjoy it, you need equipment that’s up to the task.
The rally experience according to Thrustmaster
The heart of the setup: the racing wheel
Rally racing is a discipline where precision and responsiveness are paramount. An improperly-calibrated brake pedal, a poorly-executed gear shift or an unreliable handbrake can easily lead to a crash. That’s why so many gamers trust us.
The Thrustmaster EVO Racing 32R Leather wheel rim perfectly embodies this philosophy. With its realistic diameter of 12.6 inches / 32 cm and leather wrapping, it offers a firm grip and optimal comfort.
As a bonus, the EVO Hub can accommodate future EVO Racing wheel rims and paddle shifters for all other racing simulation styles.
For maximum driving sensations and power, T598 Servo Base is the ideal companion. With its constant torque and supercharged effects, you’ll feel every bump in the road.
But to fully appreciate the subtleties of the game’s physics, the racing wheel alone isn’t enough. Peripheral accessories become essential.
TH8A and TSS Handbrake: the pillars of a successful rally setup
To simulate driving a rally car, the TH8A shifter is a must-have. Crafted entirely of metal, it’s precise and adjustable, allowing you to quickly switch from “H”-pattern mode to sequential mode. In Assetto Corsa Rally, this versatility lets you adapt to different vehicle categories — from vintage Group B cars to modern Fiats. The mechanical feel of shifting gears adds a truly immersive dimension.
Alongside it, TSS Handbrake is the perfect complement. A true precision gem, it lets you control skidding in tight corners or on slippery surfaces with exceptional sensitivity. Thanks to its 90% metal construction and H.E.A.R.T. magnetic technology, this progressive handbrake guarantees flawless durability and consistency, even after hundreds of special stages.
This TH8A + TSS Handbrake duo literally transforms the gaming experience. In rally racing, where everything depends on hand-foot coordination, having a realistic shifter and handbrake changes the very perception of racing.
The pro combo: double TSS Handbrake, the ultimate configuration
For the most demanding sim racers, Thrustmaster offers a configuration worthy of professional cockpits: the double TSS combo. The idea is simple but incredibly effective: use two TSS Handbrake devices — one configured as a progressive handbrake, the other in sequential shifter mode.
This configuration faithfully reproduces the setup of certain modern rally cars, where the sequential shifter and the hydraulic handbrake sit side by side. In Assetto Corsa Rally, this approach makes perfect sense. The first TSS allows for precise handbrake control, while the second (set to shifter mode) offers super-fast, natural gear shifting.
The result is total immersion. On a winding special stage, your right hand juggles between the two levers, the car’s reactions become more intuitive, and each turn becomes a mechanical choreography. For drivers who want to get as close as possible to the feel of a real rally car, this is undoubtedly the most realistic and rewarding solution.
The final key element: T-LCM
When designing a cockpit specifically for rally racing, it’s important not to overlook the pedal set: it’s the key to effective braking, throttle control, and quick transfers on gravel or mud. The Thrustmaster T‑LCM Pedals model is clearly a serious asset in this regard.
Designed with a force sensor (load cell) brake pedal and accelerator and clutch pedals based on contactless H.E.A.R.T. magnetic technology, it offers remarkable precision and enhanced durability. The brake reacts not to the angle of travel, but to the pressure exerted: up to 220 lb / 100 kg of load is supported, allowing for super-precise control over typical rally racing corner entries and exits.
Thanks to this precision, in Assetto Corsa Rally, you can better feel the “sinking feeling” before sliding, and you can adjust the braking force according to the surface (gravel, mud, wet asphalt). In addition, the pedal set is made entirely of metal for the pedals and arms, and offers height, tilt and spacing adjustments, allowing it to be installed on a desk, Wheel Stand or dedicated cockpit — a real advantage when switching between circuit and rally racing. In short, for any Assetto Corsa Rally racer who wants every millisecond to count, T-LCM is a key part of the Thrustmaster setup.
A Thrustmaster ecosystem perfectly calibrated for rally racing
One of Thrustmaster’s greatest strengths lies in the consistency of its ecosystem. Each product is designed to integrate seamlessly with the others, both in terms of hardware and software. Gamers can therefore combine an EVO wheel rim, a TH8A shifter, one or two TSS Handbrake devices, and even a T-LCM Load Cell pedal set — all without worrying about compatibility issues.
This modularity is ideal for Assetto Corsa Rally, whose simulation engine allows for detailed recognition of peripheral devices. Every axis and each sensor is taken into account, offering a level of control fidelity that’s rarely achieved. What’s more, Thrustmaster regularly releases firmware updates to optimize its products for new games, ensuring a smooth experience from day one.
A new playing field for sim racers
With Assetto Corsa Rally, KUNOS Simulazioni is venturing into risky but exciting territory: pure rally simulation. Where most competitors focus on arcade-style gameplay, the Italian studio has opted for rigor and realism. Based on initial impressions, the result is a brutal, demanding, but incredibly rewarding experience.
For virtual drivers, this is a rare opportunity to discover rally racing in its most authentic form — provided you have hardware capable of reproducing all of its subtleties. With a well-configured Thrustmaster setup, you’ll experience rallying like never before.
The release of Assetto Corsa Rally marks a new milestone for car racing simulation. More than just a spin-off, it’s a true declaration of love for driving. And to experience it to the fullest, nothing beats a high-quality setup: a precise racing wheel and rim, a sturdy shifter, a progressive handbrake — or better yet, a double TSS for die-hard rally fans.
Tomorrow, the special stages await you. All that’s left to do now is fasten your seatbelt, adjust your wheel, and roll off into the dust.