When you switch to a extruded cockpit, often right after buying their first Direct Drive base, two names almost always come up in searches: Sim-Lab and Trak Racer. Both rely on aluminum profiles, but the similarity ends there, and as of August 5, 2026, Trak Racer is also part of the same group as Fanatec. In my opinion, Sim-Lab remains the best choice for GT racing with a Direct Drive base—from the GT1 Evo for beginners to the P1X Pro for a high-end setup—but Trak Racer has real advantages for those on a tighter budget, offering the longest warranty and the option to switch from GT to Formula racing.

Here are the four cockpits at the heart of this match, at a glance.

Two lines that are worlds apart

Let’s start with the product lines. The Dutch manufacturer Sim-Lab offers four aluminum-profile cockpits: the GT1 Evo to start with, the GT1 Pro just above it, and then the P1X Pro and P1X Ultimate at the top of the line. Its Mercedes-AMG-licensed Formula cockpit is currently unavailable in the Sim-Lab store.

For its part, Trak Racer—founded in 2008 and based in Melbourne—offers more than a dozen car cockpits. Most are made of aluminum profiles, while a few are made of tubing—such as the TRX V2—or steel, like the TR5—and the brand also sells flight simulators, a motorcycle, and even a truck.

Trak Racer is now part of the same group as Fanatec

On August 5, 2026, Corsair, Fanatec’s parent company, acquired Trak Racer’s assets. Fanatec retains the electronics (bases, steering wheels, pedal sets, and shifters), while Trak Racer provides the simulator’s structural components: cockpits, seats, monitor mounts, motion, and haptics. Corsair also plans to sell Trak Racer products through its retailers, including in-store, whereas the brand had previously sold primarily directly online.

For buyers, Trak Racer can still be ordered through its European store and is shipped from Europe. Above all, this partnership promises future setups that combine Trak Racer cockpits with Fanatec electronics.

GT1 Evo, TR40S, or TR80S for a first cockpit

If you’re looking for your first cockpit made from extruded aluminum, your options include the GT1 Evo from Sim-Lab, priced at less than €380, and the TR40S (€299) and TR80S (starting at €399) from Trak Racer.

The TR40S has two strong selling points: it’s the least expensive of the three, and Trak Racer offers a 5-year warranty on it. Its floor frame is made of 40×40 tubing, with 40×80 uprights, and the entire kit arrives in a single box weighing about 25 kg. On the other hand, this 40×40 floor frame is less suitable for a future motion simulator, and the pedal plates may flex slightly under very hard braking. The TR80S takes it a step further with a hybrid pedal deck that accommodates both GT and Formula positions.

The GT1 Evo falls between the two in terms of price. It comes with a side mount for the shifter and handbrake, and its pedal plate is adjustable for both height and tilt. As with the Trak Racer, this plate is pre-drilled for standard pedal sets. Its compatibility list ranges from the Logitech G29 to the Moza R25 Ultra, including Fanatec models from the CSL DD to the Podium DD, as well as the Simucube 3. For a Simucube 2 or a VRS base, you’ll need to add the Front Mount EVO (approximately €120). It measures 1,350 × 580 mm on the floor. Compared to the TR40S, its real weak point remains the warranty, which is 3 years instead of 5.

So, if you’re on a tight budget, the TR40S is still unbeatable, but if this is your first semi-integrated model and you plan to upgrade it later, I’d recommend the GT1 Evo instead, which is compatible with almost all chassis models on the market.

P1X Pro or TR160 V5 for a powerful Direct Drive base

For a powerful Direct Drive base unit, the P1X Pro (around €780) goes head-to-head with the TR160 V5 (starting at €600). In between, there’s the TR120S V2 (€500) from Trak Racer and the GT1 Pro (about €645) from Sim-Lab, both in the same price range as the TR160 V5.

The Trak Racer is less expensive, and its price also includes the seat slide, a lever mount with side reinforcement, and a 5-year warranty. The P1X Pro, therefore, commands a premium for its construction. Sim-Lab has replaced the universal brackets with “sandwich” plates designed specifically for this chassis, featuring pre-drilled holes, which results in a cleaner build.

It can be ordered with your choice of mounting option for the Direct Drive base, including the front mount, the wheel deck, or the dedicated Fanatec DD mount. Sim-Lab designs its front and side mounts to provide maximum legroom and rigidity for Simucube and Fanatec DD bases. If you switch to a different base brand later, the appropriate mount can be purchased separately (just under €100). Also, note that the Moza models are different: the P1X Pro’s front mount is compatible with Simucube, Simagic Alpha Mini, and Ultimate bases, as well as the DDS base, but not with Moza bases, which require the wheeldeck. Trak Racer, for its part, offers a front mounting kit for the Moza R9 through R25 Ultra (€109).

For the heaviest setups, Trak Racer also offers the TR200 Pro (€900), featuring a 200-mm profile, which the brand touts as its most rigid cockpit. In comparison, Sim-Lab offers the P1X Ultimate, priced just under €900, with straight posts. Our guide, “Which Sim-Lab cockpit should you choose?”, details the differences between the brand’s models.

With a heavy frame and a stiff load-cell crankset, the bottom bracket shell and the bottom bracket mount take the brunt of the stress—much more than the frame tubes do. Before you buy, check how the bottom bracket shell adjusts and what type of mount is designed for your frame.

For a Simucube, Fanatec DD, or Sim-Lab DDS base mounted on the dashboard—whether for GT racing or endurance racing—I recommend the P1X Pro, even though the TR160 V5 is still hard to beat in terms of value for the price.

In the Formula category, Trak Racer comes out on top

For those who switch between GT and single-seater setups, the TRX V2 (€999) can be converted from a GT configuration to a Formula configuration in just a few minutes, since once the cockpit is installed, the base, pedals, and seat can be adjusted without tools. The Alpine-branded TRA Hybrid (€1,099) also features tool-free pedal adjustment. The more affordable TR5 (€549) offers both positions on a steel frame, for torque ratings up to 25 Nm. For the pure Formula position, Trak Racer even offers two dedicated cockpits—the TRF andthe AMR26, licensed by Aston Martin—each priced at €999.

Assembling the TRX V2, on the other hand, takes a long time, with tight tolerances on the tubular parts, and under heavy braking, the bottom bracket can flex slightly and the seat can shift a little. The seat, screen mount, and lever mount are sold separately for an additional €999. Since the frame is made of tubing, attaching small accessories is also more difficult than on an aluminum profile frame.

At Sim-Lab, the GT1 and P1X are designed for the GT driving position. The brand’s Formula solution features the reclining SF1 seat and the Mercedes-AMG cockpit, both of which are currently unavailable.

Custom-built peripherals from Sim-Lab, sold at Trak Racer

Sim-Lab manufactures most of its ecosystem in-house. The brand offers its own Direct Drive DDS base in 26 and 39 Nm versions and its XP1 load cell pedal set. Its lineup also includes an SQ1 sequential shifter, an XB1 handbrake, and steering wheels such as the GTSL Pro and the Porsche 911 RSR. Since its merger with Grid Engineering in 2022, it has also been selling the GRID DDU-5 display, making it possible to build a complete setup using products from a single brand.

At Trak Racer, the approach is completely different: the brand resells peripherals from other manufacturers, such as Simagic, Simucube, Conspit, and Heusinkveld, and focuses its expertise on the driver’s environment. As a result, its product lineup includes seats, mounts for up to four screens, haptic feedback, and even a TR160 V5 that comes with four D-BOX actuators.

Actual prices, delivery times, and warranties

You also need to be careful with loss-leader prices. Sim-Lab cockpits, such as the TR40S, TR80S, and TR160 V5, are sold without a seat, and the TRX V2, priced at €999, is just the chassis. The GT1 Evo, for example, goes from under €380 for the base model to over €1,350 with a triple-screen mount, seat, and slide rail. At Trak Racer, an HSX Hybrid Formula Pro seat alone costs between €449 and €539.

Delivery times also vary depending on the size of the order, so the price difference between two similar cockpits may reverse once everything is added up. That’s why a comparison is only meaningful once the entire cart is complete, including the seat and shipping. Sim-Lab ships the P1X Pro within 3 to 5 business days and the GT1 Evo within 10 to 12 business days, while Trak Racer estimates delivery in 5 to 10 business days.

As for the warranty, the GT1 Evo and the P1X Pro are covered for 3 years. Trak Racer offers an extended warranty on several cockpits: 5 years for the TR40S and the TR160 V5, but 2 years for the TR5. These commercial warranties are in addition to the 2-year legal warranty of conformity. Both brands accept returns within 14 days for products in perfect condition, and with Trak Racer, you are responsible for return shipping costs.

At Sim-Lab, use the code SIMMEDIA5 to save 5% sitewide.

Sim-Lab or Trak Racer: Which One Should You Choose?

With a tight budget and no plans for a motion simulator, the TR40S at €299 is the least expensive option, and it comes with a 5-year warranty as a bonus. If you’re looking for a first cockpit that you plan to upgrade, I’d go with the GT1 Evo—it remains my go-to choice thanks to its included side support, height- and angle-adjustable tray, and compatibility with almost all stands.

GT or endurance drivers with a large Direct Drive base mounted on the front will opt for the P1X Pro, even though the TR160 V5 offers more features for the price. To switch between GT and Formula racing, however, Trak Racer is the way to go, with the TRX V2 or the TRA Hybrid, or the TR5 and the TR80S with its hybrid base when on a tight budget, while the TRF and the AMR26 are designed for pure Formula racing.

Finally, for a single-brand setup, Sim-Lab lets you pair the P1X Pro with its DDS base and XP1 pedal set, whereas Trak Racer is more convenient for controlling the cockpit, seat, and electronics from another brand all at once. For a GT driver who wants a cockpit that can evolve over the years, Sim-Lab remains, in my opinion, the safest bet.