# How To Set Up Race Sessions on Your Assetto Corsa Server (/docs/assetto-corsa/session-setup)



Assetto Corsa servers run a sequence of sessions: **Practice**, **Qualifying**, and **Race**. You can enable, disable, and configure each one independently.

Session Types [#session-types]

Practice [#practice]

Open free driving with no ranking or timing pressure.

```ini
[PRACTICE]
NAME=Free Practice
TIME=0              ; Session length in minutes (0 = unlimited)
IS_OPEN=1           ; 1 = players can join mid-session
```

Set `TIME=0` for unlimited practice, or set a time limit.

Qualifying [#qualifying]

Timed session where drivers set their fastest lap to determine grid order for the race.

```ini
[QUALIFY]
NAME=Qualifying
TIME=15             ; Session length in minutes
IS_OPEN=1           ; 1 = allow joining mid-session
```

Race [#race]

The main event. Can be set by laps or by time.

```ini
[RACE]
NAME=Race
LAPS=10             ; Number of laps (set to 0 for time-based)
TIME=0              ; Minutes (used when LAPS=0)
WAIT_TIME=60        ; Seconds players have to ready up before race start
IS_OPEN=2           ; 0=closed, 1=open entire race, 2=open until leader passes start
```

**IS\_OPEN values for Race:**

* `0` — No one can join after the race starts
* `1` — Players can join at any point during the race
* `2` — Players can join until the first car crosses the start/finish line (recommended)

***

Session Flow [#session-flow]

Sessions run in order: **Practice → Qualifying → Race**.

* To skip a session, set its `TIME=0` (for Practice) or remove the section entirely
* With `LOOP_MODE=1` in `[SERVER]`, sessions restart after the race finishes
* Without loop mode, the server shuts down after the race

***

Common Session Configurations [#common-session-configurations]

Quick Race (No Practice/Qualifying) [#quick-race-no-practicequalifying]

```ini
[PRACTICE]
NAME=Practice
TIME=0
IS_OPEN=1

[QUALIFY]
NAME=Qualifying
TIME=0
IS_OPEN=1

[RACE]
NAME=Race
LAPS=15
WAIT_TIME=30
IS_OPEN=2
```

Full Race Weekend [#full-race-weekend]

```ini
[PRACTICE]
NAME=Free Practice
TIME=30
IS_OPEN=1

[QUALIFY]
NAME=Qualifying
TIME=15
IS_OPEN=1

[RACE]
NAME=Feature Race
LAPS=25
WAIT_TIME=60
IS_OPEN=0
```

Endurance / Time-Based Race [#endurance--time-based-race]

```ini
[PRACTICE]
NAME=Warm-up
TIME=10
IS_OPEN=1

[QUALIFY]
NAME=Qualifying
TIME=20
IS_OPEN=1

[RACE]
NAME=Endurance Race
LAPS=0
TIME=60
WAIT_TIME=120
IS_OPEN=1
```

***

Race Finish Behavior [#race-finish-behavior]

`RACE_OVER_TIME` in `[SERVER]` controls how many seconds remaining drivers have to finish after the winner crosses the line. Default is `60`.

```ini
RACE_OVER_TIME=120    ; 2 minutes for slower drivers to finish
```

***

Skipping Sessions Mid-Run [#skipping-sessions-mid-run]

Admins can skip to the next session or restart the current one in-game:

```
/next_session
/restart_session
```

See [Admin Commands](/docs/assetto-corsa/admin-commands) for details.

***

> 💡 **Tip:** For a casual server, run Practice with `TIME=0` and `LOOP_MODE=1`. For competitive events, use the full Practice → Qualify → Race flow.

Related Guides [#related-guides]

* [Configure Your Server](/docs/assetto-corsa/configure-your-server)
* [Change Track](/docs/assetto-corsa/change-track)
* [Admin Commands](/docs/assetto-corsa/admin-commands)