Assetto Corsa EVO has had two new ways to race since update 0.9 on 26 August 2026. Mandatory pit stops in online races longer than 20 minutes, and Special Events: fixed hotlap and hotstint challenges with a world leaderboard. Here is how both work, from KUNOS' release post and the official patch notes.
If you are new to EVO, start with my Assetto Corsa EVO guide, which has the version history and what is coming in 0.10.
Mandatory pit stops
From the 0.9 patch notes and the 0.9 release post:
| Rule | What 0.9 says |
|---|---|
| Where | Multiplayer races only, "for the time being" |
| Which races | Timed races with a session longer than 20 minutes |
| Pit window | Set by the server, from the launcher |
| What you choose | Tyre compound, pressures and fuel load, in the MFD during the race |
| Penalty change | Going back to the pits now counts as a penalty even from the pitlane |
The last line closes a loophole. Before 0.9, a driver near the box could teleport back to the pits and skip the pit lane time. KUNOS fixed that in the same update.
So in single player there is no mandatory stop yet. KUNOS has not said when that comes.
How to plan a mandatory stop
A stop is never free. You lose the pit lane time, so the trick is to lose nothing else.
- Set the MFD before the window opens. Compound, pressures and fuel are chosen while you drive. Do it on a straight, a lap before you pit, not in the braking zone for the pit entry.
- Fuel for the stint you have left, not to the brim. Every litre is weight. Work out your fuel per lap in practice and add one lap of margin.
- Pit early in the window if you are stuck in traffic. Clean air on fresh tyres is worth more than staying out on worn ones behind a slower car.
- Pit late if you are in clear air and the tyres still work. You keep track position and the stint after the stop is shorter.
This is the same thinking as a real GT race with a pit window. The window is where the race is won or lost if the pace is close.
What Special Events are
Special Events are a game mode on the EVO main menu. Each event is one car on one track, with fixed conditions and a fixed time of day. Everyone drives the same thing, and your result goes to a persistent online leaderboard.
There are two types:
- Hotlap: one lap, the best one counts.
- Hotstint: a full run of laps, so tyre wear and consistency matter, not one perfect lap.
KUNOS does not publish how many events are live at once or how often they change, so I will not guess.
Leaderboard tools in Special Events
The patch notes list what the MFD does in these events:
| Tool | Hotlap | Hotstint |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers near you on the leaderboard | Pick one from the MFD | Shown at each sector |
| What you see | Your delta is replaced by the delta to that driver | The total gap to nearby drivers at each sector line |
| Limited Attempts | Optional | Optional |
| Storyboard data of a selected entry | Not listed | Yes |
The MFD opens on the leaderboard page in a Special Event.
Limited Attempts is the one to understand before you start. When an event uses it, you can practise as much as you like, but only a set number of attempts are recorded on the leaderboard. So do your learning laps in practice and start an attempt only when you are ready.
How I would attack a Hotlap event
Pick a driver one or two tenths ahead of you, not the top of the board. Chasing the world record delta tells you nothing about where you lose time. Chasing someone close tells you exactly which corner.
Then do the boring work. Same brake point every lap, same line, until the lap time stops moving. Only then push one corner at a time.
In a Hotstint, the fastest lap matters less than the slowest. Drive at 99% and keep the tyres alive. The sector gaps show you if you are losing time as the stint goes on.
Before you start
Update 0.9 also changed the slick tyre model, and KUNOS told players to start their setups again. If your car feels wrong in a hotstint, it is probably your old setup. My ACC vs Assetto Corsa EVO page covers how the two games differ for GT racing, and the Assetto Corsa EVO FFB settings are worth checking after the tyre change too.
The next big update is 0.10 on 9 December 2026, with the first part of Free Roam. The Free Roam page has what is confirmed so far.
FAQ
Does Assetto Corsa EVO have pit stops?
Yes. Since update 0.9 there are mandatory pit stops in multiplayer races longer than 20 minutes. You choose tyres, pressures and fuel in the MFD.
Are mandatory pit stops in single player?
No. KUNOS says the feature is multiplayer only for now.
Who sets the pit window in AC EVO?
The server. The pit window is selectable for timed races with a session longer than 20 minutes.
What is a Hotstint in Assetto Corsa EVO?
A Special Event over a full run of laps instead of one lap. The leaderboard ranks the whole stint, and the MFD shows your gap to nearby drivers at each sector.
What are Limited Attempts?
An optional rule on Hotlap and Hotstint events. You can practise freely, but only a set number of attempts go on the leaderboard.
When were Special Events added to AC EVO?
In update 0.9, on 26 August 2026.
Last checked on 4 November 2026 against KUNOS' 0.9 release post on assettocorsa.gg and the 505 Games 0.9 patch notes. I will update this page when 0.10 changes either feature.