The Perfect Sim Racing Cockpit? SimLab GT1 Pro Review
This is the SimLab GT1 Pro Cockpit, the company's new mid-range offering. It isn’t attempting to introduce something new and groundbreaking; instead, it builds upon years of expertise to present a solid, straightforward, and robust contender in this fiercely competitive market. Priced at $700 without the seat, the GT1 Pro offers competitive pricing but is not without its drawbacks. In this review, I will discuss both the positives and negatives I've encountered with my first SimLab cockpit, having tested it with various wheels, pedals, and even a $1400 shifter!
SimLab was kind enough to provide this product for review, and straight off the bat, things went well. Everything arrived nicely packaged, and assembling this cockpit took me no more than a few hours. No user manuals are included; instead, you must access them online, which I’m not a fan of, but overall, assembly was straightforward. I did it all by myself, and at no point was I confused about what to do.
Positives
Once all put together, the cockpit does look and feel quite premium. The aluminum profile beams have a glossy black finish with no visible scratches or imperfections, and the wheel and pedal deck are made from a single piece of aluminum and have a subtle texture. In general, the cockpit is fairly subtle in design, but there are some nice attention-to-detail elements, such as the branded cap washers and the engraved SimLab logo on the front of the pedal deck. The white SimLab logos you see on mine were just included stickers, which I decided to place on my cockpit, but of course, if you don’t like them, you don’t have to do the same.
The dimensions of this cockpit are fairly standard; it's neither the smallest nor the largest sim racing cockpit I've seen. It measures around four and a half feet (4’5” , 135cm) in length and about two and a half feet (2’5”, 74cm) at its widest points. However, make sure to check the SimLab website for exact dimensions if you are tight on space.
One of the big selling points of the GT1 Pro is its pedal deck. Thanks to the height-adjustable brackets on the side, you can significantly change your driving position. Making these adjustments is a bit of a pain, as you will need to loosen and re-tighten 4 bolts, but it's great for the occasional change or to set it and forget it during assembly. Another great feature is the included rubber feet for all four corners of the chassis to protect your floors. However, since I'm on carpet, I opted not to use them.
Being an aluminum profile cockpit, you'll, of course, reap the benefits of wide adjustability and the flexibility that such a chassis offers. Whether you want to mount button boxes, wind simulators, or anything else, you can do so with ease. Speaking of accessories for this chassis, SimLab sent over their integrated single monitor stand, which holds my 49” super ultrawide monitor. It's fairly simple in design, priced at $200, and does an excellent job of securely and firmly holding up my screen, saving a lot of space. The VESA mount features a subtle blue accent that matches the seat and allows for micro-adjustments to ensure the screen is perfectly aligned to your needs. SimLab also offers a triple screen variant for an additional $100. Overall, I have no complaints about the monitor stand. For those seeking a subtle, clean-looking rig or wanting to conserve space, I highly recommend it
And now, of course, let's discuss SimLab’s iconic blue seat. Retailing, I believe, for around $400, it's certainly on the pricier side and will significantly increase the cost of the cockpit. While many different seats, including a plethora from Sparco, are available on their website, I received the popular blue “SimLab” branded bucket seat. Honestly, I have many positive things to say about it. The black shell is made of fiberglass with a gel coating, and the front is generously padded, covered in a breathable mesh that effectively kept me cool and comfortable during extended sessions. From a design standpoint, it also has a sporty and aggressive appearance, enhancing the aesthetics of my setup. Bolted directly to the chassis, I also observed absolutely no flex when applying the brakes in-game. So, although the seat is expensive, I found it to perform exceptionally well.
But finally, out on the track and with substantial hardware attached, how did the SimLab GT1 Pro perform? Genuinely trying to identify as many flaws as possible, I found that when it came to the flex of this cockpit, almost none was visible on the wheel mount or shifter deck, regardless of how aggressively I yanked on my shifter or how high I set my force feedback. In fact, I naturally put it to the ultimate test just to be certain. Regarding the pedal deck, again, almost no flex was present, except when I used an extremely stiff Asetek brake pedal and pressed down on it as if my life depended on it. In that scenario, when applying a completely unrealistic amount of force to the brake pedal, some flex was visible on camera. However, realistically, it's not something that concerns me in terms of performance during a race stint. So, in terms of the rigidity of this cockpit, I am thoroughly impressed.
Of course, not everything is perfect about the GT1 Pro, so let's discuss what I haven't liked about this cockpit thus far.
Negatives
For starters, though I love the look of this seat and it did come well packaged, I did find a small but noticeable tear on the back of it which, if I paid over $400 for, I would have been fuming about. This tear was here since I unboxed it and, though it hasn’t expanded throughout the last month or so I’ve used it, it is concerning and certainly not something I should have to deal with.
Moreover, regarding the seat, a significant drawback in my opinion is that even at this price point, no seat slider is included. This omission makes it a huge pain to adjust the seat. To move it even by an inch, you need to completely move the seat, then unbolt, readjust the seat brackets, which is tedious, and then reattach and bolt everything down. Furthermore, if you have any friends who want to try out your rig and need to move the seat forward, they won't be able to. Essentially, not having a seat slider has been a major drawback for me, especially as I'm consistently making adjustments, changing gear, and needing to readjust seating positions. Another missing feature is a buttkicker mount, which many competitors at or below this price point offer as standard. Lastly, while SimLab advertises their side-mount as versatile, without an actual handbrake or shifter mount and only an aluminum profile beam, I don’t really think it is. To me, it seems like a cost-saving measure to not include a shifter and handbrake bracket, which all other mid-range cockpits I’ve tested have included as standard.
Moreover, regarding the seat, and a huge drawback in my opinion, is that even at this price point, no seat slider comes included. This omission makes it diificult to adjust the seat because, to even move it up by an inch or so, you need to completely move the seat, then unbolt, readjust the seat brackets, which is tedious, and then reattach and bolt everything down. Moreover, if you have any friends who want to try out your rig and need to move the seat forward, they won’t be able to easily do so. So, basically, not having a seat slider has been a big drawback for me, especially as I'm consistently making adjustments, changing gear, and needing to readjust seating positions. Moreover, regarding things that are missing, is a Buttkicker mount, which a lot of competitors at or below this price point do offer as standard. And finally, SimLab advertises their side-mount as “versatile”, but without an actual handbrake or shifter mount and rather just an aluminum profile beam, I don’t really think it is. To me, it just seems like a lazy and cost-saving way to not include a shifter and handbrake bracket, which all other mid-range cockpits I’ve tested have included as standard.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the GT1 Pro Cockpit stands as a testament to SimLab's dedication to delivering a quality product that boasts rigidity and a premium feel. Its design, attention to detail, and overall performance on the track are commendable. However, it's not without its flaws. The absence of a seat slider, the minor tear on my seat, and the lack of certain mounts are areas where the GT1 Pro could see improvement. While it excels in many aspects, potential buyers should weigh these drawbacks against its strengths. But overall, for those seeking a sturdy and reliable cockpit that will do the job without breaking a sweat, the GT1 Pro is a strong contender in the mid-range market and will be my main cockpit, at least for the foreseeable future. In essence, it does the job and it does it well, and that’s all I really need… except I will be buying a seat slider as soon as possible.
