Alpine TRX Review by Trak Racer | The Ultimate Sim?

Designed with the help of Formula 1 engineers at Alpine Racing, the Trak Racer TRX has got to be one of the most exciting sim racing products in a while. They’ve sent it over to me for review so today, I’ll be telling you all what I do and do not like and why the Trak Racer TRX is so unique.

So far in this review, I've referred to this product as the TRX, but its official name is the Alpine Racing TRX. It was designed in collaboration with the Alpine Racing F1 team, and the folks at Trak Racer even managed to get their logo on the actual car in several races. I'll explain more about that in a future video.

Upon its original announcement, the Alpine Racing TRX caught my attention for several reasons, but most prominently for its striking blue color. I'm happy to report that upon its arrival at my house, it did not disappoint. Most of the chassis is powder-coated in a sparkly blue color that glistens under light and looks incredibly unique, especially compared to all the other cockpits I've previously owned. The Alpine livery is certainly bold and will stand out, so for those who want something a little more discreet, the entire chassis is also offered in an all-black version (if you're lame).

Made from a tubular frame, the TRX not only looks unique with its sleek styling and appealing curvature, but it was also very easy to assemble. Unlike aluminum profile frames that come in several different parts, replete with T-nuts and bolts everywhere, the TRX fits together by connecting only a few major components, most of which come with pre-installed bolts for added convenience. My only major gripe during the assembly of the TRX was with the wheel plate, which has many moving parts, requires meticulous instructions, and necessitates two people for assembly.

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Talking about the wheel plate, it—along with the pedal deck and seat—comes with sliders, allowing you to easily adjust the positions of all three. Adjustability really is the main selling point of the TRX. Not only is virtually everything adjustable, but the entire chassis can be changed from a formula to a GT-seating position—and everything in between—in just a few minutes, with no need for tools. For reference, I've had a Next Level Racing F-GT Elite for well over a year, and during that time, I've only switched the driving position a total of two times because it's such a pain to do so. Now, with the TRX, I can achieve the same thing in just around 1 to 2 minutes, which is a massive selling point.

The seat can be adjusted up and down by first loosening a knob on either end, then twisting the handle and moving it to the desired location. Two more knobs near the middle of the frame further add or remove inclination. Finally, the pedals, using four knobs, can be adjusted up and down to your liking. Altogether, including the adjustability on the monitor stand, shifter mount, and even the padding on the seat, the TRX is the most easily-adjustable sim racing cockpit I've ever owned by a long shot.

For me, the biggest drawback of the Trak Racer TRX has to be its size. I've owned dozens of sim racing cockpits, and this one is easily larger in length, width, and height than any of them. Especially when placed in a formula seating position, where the seat lies further back, this cockpit takes up a significant amount of space. So much so that I won't be able to place it in my bedroom, as I had originally planned.

Despite its large size, Trak Racer, in collaboration with D-Box—a company specializing in motion solutions—has developed a motion platform compatible with the TRX. I had the chance to try this out at the Trak Racer offices in Texas, and it is extremely impressive. The level of detail, the sensations of road surfaces, bumps, and especially gear changes were all very prominent and truly brought the experience to life. The bad news is that with the four motion actuators, along with the special base needed to mount the chassis, the price of a full-motion Trak Racer TRX, including the cockpit, will surpass $10,000. Now, I'm clearly not the target market for that, but if you are, you'll certainly receive an incredible racing setup.

Specifically focusing on the seat, it was one of the most pleasant surprises for me. The fiberglass shell features the vibrant Alpine livery, which arrived with no visible imperfections and even included a plastic film to protect it during shipping. The injection-molded foam padding on the front is of equally high quality, featuring a beautiful diamond-stitched pattern and individual support cushions that can be easily repositioned to best suit your needs. Like the frame, the seat is also large in size, primarily because it's suitable for both GT and Formula seating positions. This also means it will adapt well to larger individuals. Surprisingly, no Buttkicker mount is included, and I'm not sure whether one can be fitted onto this seat or frame. In terms of comfort, I have absolutely no complaints. I would even argue that this might be the most comfortable sim racing seat I've owned to date. Given its $600 retail price, I'd expect it to be this comfortable. Overall, I am very impressed with the seat.

For an additional $99, Trak Racer offers an integrated single monitor stand that allows you to avoid the hassle of dealing with freestanding monitors. I put this monitor stand to the test using a ridiculous 49-inch super ultra-wide screen, and not only was it easy to assemble, but it has also held up the monitor without breaking a sweat. A surprising amount of adjustability is available here, with several mounting holes to adjust both the height and the distance at which the monitor is placed. Overall, unless you're planning on going with a triple monitor setup, I can easily recommend the integrated monitor stand.

Now, I've talked a lot about the features and unique aspects of the TRX, but ultimately, where it really matters—out on the track—does the Alpine TRX deliver?

Ultimately, the answer is yes. Starting with the wheel deck, while some flex may be noticeable when yanking the wheel up or down in an unnatural manner, in normal use on the track, no flex is apparent—much less felt. Using my 8nm Fanatec GT DD Pro, the wheel felt planted, well-secured, and provided all the feedback I was seeking. When using a much more powerful direct-drive system with the motion rig, I again encountered no issues related to the rigidity and strength of the wheel deck. And, as tradition dictates, I naturally had to give it the ultimate test.

Moving on to the pedal deck, especially when viewed on camera, some small amounts of flex are visible in the GT position, where the pedals lay flat, with significantly more flex apparent when the pedals are elevated in the Formula position. I don't want to downplay this, as visible flex is, of course, not ideal. However, to be completely honest, during racing, it wasn't substantial enough to be noticeable. This flex is a result of the product's adjustability and immense versatility. It's understandable that you'll lose some rigidity when incorporating sliders and tool-free adjustability into the design. Surprisingly, though, the most flex I found was on the shifter mount.

Despite how tightly I bolted it down, when forcefully yanking my sequential shifter, the mount exhibited noticeable flex. This won't be a problem if you're using a regular H-pattern or a less robust sequential shifter, but when fitted with stiff load cell handbrakes and high-end sequential shifters like the one I used in this video, I do have concerns about the potential flex of this shifter mount.

Aside from that, however, both in GT and Formula seating positions, I had an absolute blast on the track and felt comfortable at all times.

In conclusion, the Alpine Racing TRX is a truly unique product that is not for everyone. If you exclusively race in a GT seating position and prioritize maximum rigidity above all else, an aluminum profile rig may be better suited for you. If you are concerned about size and portability, this product is definitely not a match, and for those on a budget, I regret to say that this cockpit is out of reach. The Alpine Racing TRX is tailored for those who value craftsmanship, the cool factor, aesthetics, performance, and the convenience of owning a sim racing cockpit developed in collaboration with an F1 team. It's for those who seek a unique experience and for whom the racing simulator serves as much as a showpiece as it does a functional sim rig.

While the Alpine Racing TRX does make compromises in certain areas where other cockpits excel at a lower price point, one thing is clear: when it comes to having a truly cool and unique sim racing setup, few competitors come close.