There is a story unfolding throughout every THR race. At the front, drivers fight for victory. Further back, someone is recovering from a poor start, closing a gap or defending a position that matters just as much to them.
The THR AI Commentator is a completely new system, developed from the ground up by pitman specifically for the THR community. It brings those stories into our broadcasts by combining live race information, two AI commentator voices, automatic camera direction and knowledge from the THR Paddock.
The project is already being tested during race broadcasts, and community feedback will help shape its development.
Meet Alex and Miles
Our virtual commentary team consists of two distinct personalities.
Alex Reed leads the coverage. Warm, curious and enthusiastic, he follows the action and connects individual moments with the wider race story. A close battle builds anticipation; a decisive pass gives him something to get excited about.
Miles Hartley brings a calmer, analytical perspective. His character is an experienced former racer with a dry British sense of humour. He discusses racecraft, explains technical ideas and occasionally challenges Alex’s interpretation.
Both are fictional characters created for THR’s AI commentary. Their different personalities give the broadcast room for conversation, short reactions and occasional humour.
The dialogue is designed to vary with the situation. Sometimes Alex makes a brief call on his own. Sometimes Miles starts an observation. A quieter stretch may allow a longer discussion.
Following the race
The system receives information from Assetto Corsa and uses it to identify developments worth covering. Depending on the available data, these can include:
- Close battles and shrinking gaps.
- Confirmed overtaking moves.
- Off-track moments, contact and significant speed loss.
- Pit-lane visits and observed stops.
- Race starts and individual finishes.
The commentary follows these observations. Pit-related position changes, lapping and overtaking for position are treated separately. When the available information leaves the cause of an incident unclear, the system should keep its description to what was observed.
There is also room to follow a story over time: pressure building between two drivers, a recovery through the field or an opportunity developing after a mistake.
Bringing Paddock knowledge into the commentary
The connection to the THR Paddock adds context beyond the current timing screen.
Available background can include previous race results, driver statistics, championship standings, personal profiles, vehicle information and circuit details. This allows a current performance to become part of a broader story: a driver improving on an earlier result, returning to a familiar circuit or racing a different type of car.
Organisers can also provide background notes about the circuit, vehicles, championship and race weekend. These are especially useful for historical layouts and the particular cars and rules used by THR.
Background topics are selected during suitable moments, while important race action takes priority.
Camera direction and replays
The companion app, THR AI Camera, allows the system to select cars and camera views in Assetto Corsa.
Automatic direction follows selected race stories, with dedicated handling for the start and finishing drivers. Important observed moments can also be selected for replays.
An OBS browser overlay provides a REPLAY label and a THR logo transition. The system accounts for the configured broadcast picture delay when scheduling commentary and replay graphics.
Manual camera control remains available whenever the broadcaster wants to take over.
Voices that respond to the situation
Alex and Miles each have their own saved voice, speaking instructions and base speed.
During race commentary, the system adjusts delivery instructions and speaking speed for the current situation. Background conversations become calmer, close battles more urgent and decisive moments more energetic. Miles generally varies less than Alex, preserving his more measured character.
Voice expression is still an area of active development. Listening tests help us judge whether those changes sound natural and sufficiently distinct.
A record of what happened
The system also records race observations for later analysis.
A separate race-event file stores confirmed position changes and fully observed pit-lane visits, together with timing, driver identification and location information where available. These records can support Paddock race reports and help explain how a race developed.
Commentary transcripts and subtitle exports provide another way to revisit the broadcast afterwards.
Help us improve it
The THR AI Commentator is still being refined through recorded tests and live broadcasts. Factual accuracy, camera choices, audio reliability, timing and natural conversation all need continued attention.
Community feedback is particularly valuable. Did the commentary notice an interesting battle? Was an explanation useful? Did a historical reference fit the race? Did the cameras stay with one car for too long?
Those observations help us build coverage that reflects what makes THR racing enjoyable: the cars, the competition and the people whose stories continue from one race to the next.
