Best Sim Racing Cockpits

Match the frame to your wheelbase torque

Wheelbase torque is the first number to check. Trak Racer's own chart rates its TR8 PRO for 0 to 25 Nm and its TR120S for 0 to 30 Nm and above. Next Level Racing says the GTRacer 2.0 supports direct drive wheels up to 13 Nm. Playseat gives no Nm figure for the Trophy but recommends it for direct drive wheels.

Owner reports follow the makers' ranges. Owners of folding Playseat-style frames describe flex or a need for bracing on bases around 8 Nm, as in several GTPlanet posts. Owners of aluminium and steel tube rigs report no movement at 8 to 21 Nm. Pedals matter too. Load cell brakes push back hard, so check the pedal plate and the seat slider as well as the wheel deck.

Aluminium profile, steel tube or frameless

Aluminium profile (T-slot) rigs bolt together from extruded bars. Every part moves, which suits tall and short drivers, and owners describe them as the stiffest option. They take longer to build. Trak Racer TR120S owners mention builds of several hours.

Steel tube rigs such as the Trak Racer TR8 PRO arrive with bolts pre-fitted, take less floor and look tidier. Their add-ons mostly come from the same maker, and tall drivers report knee clearance problems. Frameless and folding Playseat designs are light, at 11.6 to 16 kg, but have fewer adjustments.

Price no longer separates the types as much as it did. The GT Omega PRIME Lite-R is $299.95 and the Sim-Lab GT1 Evo is $388, both without a seat. GT Omega lists seats from $319.95.

GT or formula seating position

A GT position sits upright with the legs lower. A formula position sits reclined with the legs higher. Some rigs switch between the two. The Next Level Racing F-GT Lite does it with adjustable hubs, and the Playseat Challenge X has six preset reclining positions. Trak Racer's chart lists a Formula/GT hybrid pedal system as optional on the TR120S and not offered on the TR8 PRO.

One Trophy owner describes its position as not too upright like a GT car and not too laid back like an F1 car. If you only race one style, check the pedal tray angle range before you buy.

Space, folding and weight

Only the Challenge X and F-GT Lite fold. Playseat says the Challenge X sets up and stores in about 10 seconds with the wheel and pedals attached. The F-GT Lite folds to about 75 x 40 x 87 cm, per the Sim Race Webshop listing of Next Level Racing's spec.

Fixed rigs need a permanent spot. The TR8 PRO is 600 x 1,300 mm and 51 kg. The TR120S V2 is 660 x 1,445 mm and 37 kg. The GT1 Evo is 1,350 x 580 mm. The Lite-R is 58 x 137 cm. Several TR8 PRO owners recommend the caster kit for moving it.

If you want direct drive and storage, a folding wheel stand may fit better than a folding cockpit. See the wheel stand guide.

What is in the box

The TR120S V2, TR8 PRO V2, GT1 Evo and PRIME Lite-R all ship without a seat. The Trophy, Challenge X, GTRacer 2.0 and F-GT Lite include one. Shifter support is included on the TR8 PRO, Challenge X and F-GT Lite, optional on the TR120S, and sold separately for the Trophy.

Budget for a seat, a monitor stand and cable parts as well. Check which wheelbase mount your rig uses before you order, because some rigs need a separate mount for certain direct drive bases.