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Managing Session Flow

The structure of an Assetto Corsa server is defined by its active sessions. Whether you are building an infinite “Track Day” for casual cruising or a strictly regulated competitive league format, everything is managed through specific headers in your server configuration. Mastering these sessions allows you to control the pace and style of your community’s racing.

Difficulty

Beginner Friendly

Time

10 Minutes

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Configuring Session Blocks

In your server_cfg.ini, you define each stage of the event using dedicated block headers.
Most casual servers use a long practice session to allow for “Join in Progress” flexibility.
[PRACTICE]
NAME=Free Practice
TIME=120  ; Duration in minutes
IS_OPEN=1 ; Allows players to join at any time

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Joining Methods: Pickup vs. Booking

How players join your server is determined by your server’s registration mode.
1

Evaluate Pickup Mode

Set PICKUP_MODE_ENABLED=1. This is the recommended setting for 99% of servers. It allows players to choose any available car from your entry_list.ini and join the session instantly without pre-registration.
2

Understand Booking Mode

Booking is a legacy system that requires players to pre-register before the session timer starts. We recommend keeping this disabled (0) as it is highly restrictive and often results in empty public servers.

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Creating Persistent Lobbies

If you are hosting a dedicated drift, cruise, or track-day community, set your [PRACTICE] time to a maximum value (e.g., 9999) and remove the [QUALIFY] and [RACE] blocks entirely. This creates a persistent environment that remains online indefinitely without resetting.

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Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

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Last Updated: January 2026 | Assetto Corsa: Race your own way.