Next Level Racing GTTrack In 2021 Review!
The Next Level Racing GTTrack Cockpit, is the company's flagship model coming in at a significant $900. Just based on the price alone, you already know this is very much a simulator aimed at those who are very serious about sim racing, or those who just have very big pockets. Or maybe those who are irresponsible with their money. But is this cockpit really worth $900? Let's find out.
Disclaimer: I did receive this product free of charge from Next Level Racing themselves. It was not however sent for review purposes. I’m only making this review because I feel like it. As always, I try to be as honest and concise with my reviews as possible so please keep that in mind.
To keep this review concise and to the point, I’ll split it up into three main parts, its positives, its negatives, and my final thoughts and recommendation.
Positives
Marketed directly at “serious and professional sim racers” the GTTrack feels like so. Starting with the seat, I truly have nothing but good things to say about it. With my previous cockpit, I swear to you, I could not last more than 40 minutes without literally having my back aching, but with the GTTrack comfort has surpassed all expectations and I’ve spent well over a few hours on it without a problem.
Whilst not sacrificing comfort in the slightest, the seat also looks and feels great. It's made out of synthetic leather, which to be completely honest I thought was real leather until I looked up other reviews, and has the Next Level Racing as well as the GTTrack logo very nicely embroidered on the headrest.
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The bucket seat keeps you in place although being who I am, I wish the seat looked more aggressive. I guess that's a personal choice more than anything else. The GTTrack also comes included with a racing harness which at first I thought was gimmicky, but after seeing how cool it looks on the seat and using it religiously whilst in-game I really like it. It adds another level of realism and immersion I never knew I was missing out on. In terms of adjustability, other than not being able to move up or down, this seat is fully adjustable and reclinable to suit probably everyone. Finally, the seat is also removable so if you have or want to swap it out with another seat you may have lying around, that is an option.
The rig itself feels, acts, and looks as good as you would imagine. Being compatible with all force feedback wheels and the highest-end of gear available, this thing is no joke and there's really no point in talking about its stability further. Its an absolute tank that unless you’re built like Shaq and are driving like white parents going to the airport five hours early, you will never have a problem with it. In terms of its adjustability, you can pretty much configure this cockpit anyway you could imagine. From pivoting and adjusting the height of the wheel to bringing the shifter arm closer or further away from you, this cockpit can easily be adjusted to meet anyone's needs. As you would expect, it comes with a sturdy shifter arm included which can be mounted on either the left hand or right hand side and can hold nearly all configurations of shifters and hand brakes that you could imagine. It also does a spectacular job at holding my phone. As you can see, the cockpit does not feature a pole in the middle, and coming from my old cockpit which did, my god this is a massive upgrade and I feel like so many people take for granted not having a pole in between your legs when racing.
Something cool I’ve seen people in the community do with this cockpit is put button boxes and all that stuff in the wheel mounting plate. So it's cool to also have that option. The GTTrack was also designed with the ButtKicker in mind thus, not only is it easy and straightforward to install, but it feels fantastic and all its potential is put to use. Finally, I should mention that this cockpit is compatible with Next Level Racing's motion platforms which although I've never had the pleasure of trying out, I've heard it's simple to install and quickly get moving with. Get it? moving?
Overall, in terms of its performance in-game, this cockpit absolutely checks off all the boxes and allows you to remain comfortable, immersed, and secure throughout the entirety of the race.
Negatives
In terms of the negatives, let me start off by saying that there is absolutely nothing bad about this cockpit that will interfere with your experience on the track. There are however a few minor inconveniences that for its price point, probably should have been addressed.
I wish this cockpit came with a headphone holder. To combat this, I attached a small L-bracket to the cockpit's shifter arm. I had to add that separately to have an easy-to-access place to hold them. Being designed with “sim racers and professional racers in mind” it seems they forgot that we all use headphones. I also wish this cockpit came with a keyboard and mouse arm, which although Next Level Racing sells a free-standing one separately, it would have been very nice to have. Finally, just some other minute attention to details like a holder for the ButtKicker controller or even a cup holder would have all made this cockpit that much better and more geared toward the $900 price point.
So while I truly cannot think of any negatives regarding the cockpit and its functionality itself, I wish it included these small little things which would have made this cockpit so much more convenient. At the moment, I’m left to reach down to the floor every time I want to adjust my ButtKicker's force and DIY solutions for my headphones. Coming in at $900 I really shouldn’t have to. At least I don’t think I should.
Conclusion
This cockpit is very clearly not intended nor marketed towards casual sim racers like myself who would hesitate before spending even a few hundred dollars on sim racing equipment. It's meant for the most hardcore, the most serious, and the most professional racers who are pushing the limits on every lap and truly need a cockpit as sturdy and as comfortable as this to perform at their best. So while a cockpit as hardcore as this is overkill for more casual players like myself, it's perfect for those who truly push the limits.
Regarding its price point, it goes back to what I just said. Casual sim racers like me who enjoy sim racing but are hesitant in investing hundreds or even thousands on sim racing equipment would naturally see the price point and be instantly turned away. But for those who are very serious sim racers, professional e-sports players, and even those who are real race car drivers and use this cockpit with serious direct-drive wheelbases and hardcore pedals, this is nothing more than a small investment. Especially compared to the costs associated with real-world motorsport. And at the end of the day, if you are willing to spend $900, you sure as hell get a quality, capable, sturdy, and good-looking rig.
As always, let me know what you think in the comments below. Do you agree with me? Disagree? If you could, would you spend $900 dollars on the Next Level Racing GTTrack?
