A quiet road, a car you want to drive and the next bend disappearing into the trees. That is a very different reason to sit down in your simulator. Assetto Corsa EVO's Free Roam reveal puts that experience within reach, and gives us another reason to build a setup we want to spend time in.
As a racing driver and the founder of SIMGASM, I look at this through the same question I ask when designing a cockpit: how do we make the connection between the driver and the car feel more natural? An open road gives that question a different setting. Steering position, pedal stability and a comfortable seat become part of the enjoyment of the whole drive.
Explore the SIMGASM cockpit range
What the October 7 Free Roam reveal confirmed
On 7 October 2026, KUNOS Simulazioni and 505 Games revealed Free Roam for Assetto Corsa EVO. The setting is a recreation of Germany's Eifel region at 1:1 scale. Its first playable area will include the Nordschleife, nearby villages and connecting roads, with further areas planned over time.
Changing weather, a day and night cycle and variable AI traffic will bring variety to the routes. Drivers can explore alone or in multiplayer, with optional Time Attack challenges adding another reason to return. The attraction is easy to understand: the landscape around the Nürburgring becomes somewhere to drive, rather than scenery beyond a circuit.
Give every drive a proper driving position
When I think about a simulator for road cars, I start with the relationship between the seat, wheel and pedals. You should be able to steer without reaching forward, use the brake without pushing yourself backwards and find the controls without breaking your concentration.
A dedicated aluminium cockpit gives those components a fixed home. You can adjust the setup around your body and return to the same position each time you drive. That is a useful foundation whether your evening involves exploring a new route, joining friends or switching back to circuit racing.
Start with the seat. Then set the pedals so you can use their full travel while staying supported, and bring the wheel within a comfortable reach. Finally, position the screen around that driving posture. With VR, check that you can reach your controls comfortably while wearing the headset.
Choose your SIMGASM cockpit around your hardware
Free Roam does not require everyone to build the same simulator. The right chassis depends on your wheelbase, pedals, available space and the way you want to develop your setup. Our four cockpit families give you different starting points:
- Hobby: an accessible, compact starting point for your first dedicated aluminium simulator.
- Club: a balanced platform for regular driving and a growing hardware setup.
- Sport: a foundation for a more ambitious installation, with integrated cable routing and motion readiness.
- Pro: our flagship chassis for drivers who want the greatest structural headroom in the range.
Choose the wheel mount for your exact wheelbase model using the compatibility information on the product page. Think about the peripherals you will actually use, too. A shifter can be a satisfying part of a road car setup when the car and your hardware support it, so plan its position within a comfortable reach.
A comfortable seat belongs in the plan
It is easy to focus on the wheelbase and leave the seat until the end. For a simulator you want to use regularly, I would choose both together. The seat determines how your body meets the controls and how well you stay supported throughout a session.
The SIMGASM Core Recline offers an adjustable backrest for refining a road car driving position. You can also explore our sim racing seat range and choose the seating style that fits your build. Consider the mounting arrangement and any slider you need as part of the complete installation.
My starting point for an immersive EVO setup
For a driver planning a substantial simulator, I would start by looking at the SIMGASM Sport. Its cable routing helps keep the installation organised, and its motion ready construction gives you a platform to build on as your plans develop.
A simpler build can be just as enjoyable. Club deserves a look if your goal is a dedicated simulator for regular road and circuit driving. Match the frame to your hardware and spend time getting the position right; that is where the setup starts to feel like yours.
If you are considering motion, check the chosen system's game support before building around it. The chassis provides the physical foundation; the actuators, electronics and software support are separate parts of the installation.
For display positioning and headset preparation, our Assetto Corsa EVO VR cockpit setup guide is a useful next read.
See Free Roam at Sim Racing Expo
The first public hands on preview is scheduled for Sim Racing Expo in Frankfurt from 16 to 18 October 2026. Visitors will be able to try Free Roam at dedicated stations. It is an opportunity to see how the new mode feels before planning your own driving sessions around it.
Build the simulator you will want to drive
The appeal of Free Roam is having another reason to get behind the wheel. Your simulator should make that easy: a position that feels natural, controls mounted where you need them and a setup that fits into your life.
Explore the SIMGASM range, compare the cockpit families and choose the foundation for your next build. Whether you start with Hobby, develop a Club installation or plan a Sport or Pro setup, make it a place you look forward to sitting down in.
Written by Johan Akkerman, founder of SIMGASM. Keynote information checked on 8 October 2026 against the official Assetto Corsa announcement. Cover: AI-generated editorial illustration inspired by the Eifel landscape. Product photograph: SIMGASM.
