Error "cannot have 0 cars in race ini assetto corsa" appears in the server logs immediately after an attempt to start a session, if in the configuration file race.ini parameter NUM_CARS set to zero or not specified at all. This critical error stops the simulator from loading as the engine cannot initialize a game session without at least one vehicle, be it a player or an AI. Often the problem is hidden in syntax errors when editing configuration files for mods or custom servers.
The system message indicates that the resource allocation algorithm has not received data on the number of participants in the race. In standard single-player mode, this value is entered automatically, but when using Content Manager or manually starting a dedicated server (Dedicated Server), the user must explicitly specify the number of machines. Ignoring this requirement leads to an immediate crash of the process. acServer.exe or getting stuck in the boot menu.
To troubleshoot the problem, you need to open the configuration file and check the section responsible for the race parameters. In most cases, it is enough to change the value of the variable NUM_CARS from 0 to 1 or more. If you are setting up a multiplayer server, make sure that the player limit is also set correctly, as some plugins read the total number of slots from this parameter.
Causes of configuration errors
The main reason for the message "cannot have 0 cars" is an incorrect value in the file race.ini, which controls the check-in logic. This often happens after updating the simulator Assetto Corsa or installing new route modifications that require specific settings. Sometimes users accidentally reset the parameter while trying to create an empty session to configure the camera or telemetry, forgetting that the engine requires at least one active entity.
⚠️ Attention: Editing system configuration files without creating a backup copy may result in complete server inoperability. Before making changes, copy the original file
race.inito a secure folder.
Another common reason is a version conflict between the client side of the game and the server software. If the server is running on one version, and modifications require another, the parameters may be read incorrectly, interpreted as zero. The problem may also lie in access rights: if a process does not have rights to read the configuration file, it may perceive it as empty, which is equivalent to the absence of machines.
- 🚗 Incorrectly specified parameter
NUM_CARSin section[RACE]. - 💻 Version conflict between Content Manager and the server core.
- 📂 Lack of rights to read the configuration file by the operating system.
Manually editing the race.ini file
The most effective way to solve the problem is to manually edit the file race.ini. This file is located in the server configuration folder or in the directory with saved race presets. Open it with any text editor, for example, Notepad++ or standard notepad, and find the line starting with NUM_CARS.
Change the value after the equal sign to the number corresponding to the number of participants you want. For single-player games with bots, the value is usually set from 5 to 20, depending on system performance. For a dedicated server, the value can be 1 if you plan to connect yourself, or higher if other players are expected.
☑️ Checking race.ini parameters
After making changes, be sure to save the file. Make sure that when saving, no extra transcript was added, for example, .txt at the end of the file name. The file must be named strictly race.ini. If you are using Content Manager, changes may be overwritten the next time you start it, so it is recommended to make changes through the content manager interface, in the server settings section.
Setup via Content Manager
Usage Content Manager significantly simplifies the setup process and minimizes the risk of errors "cannot have 0 cars". This tool automatically generates the correct configuration files based on the parameters selected by the user. When creating a new room or server, go to the session settings tab.
In the "Cars" section, make sure the specific number of cars is selected or the "Use all cars" checkbox is checked if applicable to your scenario. If you are setting up a server for racing with bots, look for the "AI Count" slider or similar setting. Set the value to greater than zero. The program interface will not allow you to start a server with zero machines, issuing a warning before the initialization process begins.
| Parameter | Description | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
NUM_CARS |
Total number of cars in the race | 1 and higher |
MAX_CLIENTS |
Maximum online players | Depends on the server |
AI_COUNT |
Number of bots | 0-24 |
Hidden CM settings
Content Manager has advanced server settings available through the 'Show advanced options' button. There you can manually specify launch arguments, overriding the standard race.ini values.
Problems with mods and custom tracks
Installing modified routes often triggers errors "cannot have 0 cars". Some custom tracks have their own configuration files surfaces.ini or track.ini, which may conflict with the basic race settings. If the course requires a specific number of starting positions, and in race.ini is zero or a number greater than the number of pits, a conflict occurs.
Check the compatibility of the installed version of the track mod with your version of the simulator Assetto Corsa. Mod developers often update the files to fix bugs in Lua scripts that can cause race parameters to reset. If the problem only appears on a specific route, try removing it and installing it again from a trusted source.
- 🛣️ Check for file availability
surfaces.iniin the routes folder. - 📉 Make sure that the number of pits on the track is not less than the number of cars.
- 🔄 Reinstall the track mod if the files are damaged.
⚠️ Attention: Using old versions of tracks with new versions of the game can lead to unpredictable errors, including a crash at startup. Always check the mod's update date.
Server log diagnostics
If manual editing does not help, you need to refer to the server logs for in-depth diagnostics. Log files are usually located in the folder logs inside the server directory. Look for files with the extension .log, sorted by date and time the error occurred. The logs detail the loading process of each module.
Find the line containing text "cannot have 0 cars". The context around this line will tell you which module or plugin caused the check. This error is often preceded by messages about loading Lua scripts. If some script crashed with an error, it might not pass the correct value of the number of cars to the main game loop.
For easy reading of logs, use text editors with syntax highlighting or specialized utilities for analyzing Assetto Corsa logs, which highlight errors in red.
Pay attention to the time the error occurred. If it appears immediately after the "Loading session" line, the problem is in the underlying configuration. If the error occurs later, after loading assets, it may be a mod conflict. In the latter case, try starting the server in “clean” mode, disabling all third-party plugins.
Prevention and best practices
To avoid the error reappearing "cannot have 0 cars", it is recommended to adhere to certain rules when administering the server. Always use configuration templates provided by the official community or trusted plugin developers. Don't create files race.ini from scratch, unless absolutely necessary.
Update regularly Content Manager and the simulator itself. Developers are constantly making improvements to the mechanism for processing configuration files. It is also useful to use automatic backup systems for server settings, which will allow you to quickly roll back to a working version in the event of a failure.
- 💾 Make a backup of the cfg folder before installing new mods.
- 🔒 Use only proven server plugins.
- 📝 Keep a log of configuration changes to track errors.
Main conclusion: The "cannot have 0 cars" error can be solved by setting the NUM_CARS > 0 parameter in the race.ini file and checking the compatibility of the track mods.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why does the error only appear on one specific trace?
Most likely, this track's configuration file contains errors or requires a specific number of starting places that conflicts with yours. race.ini. Check the route folder for damaged files.
Is it possible to run the server without bots so that the error disappears?
Yes, but the parameter NUM_CARS should still be greater than zero if you plan to race yourself. If you set 0 cars and 0 bots, the server may not start the session at all, since there will be no one to go.
Does the version of Windows affect the appearance of this error?
The operating system version does not have a direct impact. However, problems with file encoding (UTF-8 vs ANSI) in Windows may result in the file not being read correctly race.ini, which is interpreted as no parameters.
How to reset all server settings to factory settings?
Delete files race.ini, server_cfg.ini and other configuration files from the server folder. On next startup after Content Manager or launcher they will be created anew with default values.