SIMLAB P1X PRO

Our rating : 9.7/10

Although Simlab has only been present in the sim-racing segment for around ten years, it has to be said that the company has rapidly made a name for itself among the industry’s go-to players. Primarily offering good-quality cockpits at affordable prices compared with the competition, Simlab’s catalog also includes sim-racing accessories such as dashboards, paddles, a pedal board, steering wheels and more.

Unlike other players in the segment, such as PlayseatSimlab only offers 4 cockpits in its catalog. This not only keeps production costs down, but also enables us to offer prices that reflect this. In fact, Simlab’s cheapest chassis starts at €399 for a complete aluminum profile structure.

Among the 4 products offered by the Dutch brand, we have the P1X Prowhich is positioned just ahead of the brand’s top-of-the-range X1 Pro. In what follows, we take a look at the P1X Pro from every angle.

Main and technical cockpit features

• Entire structure in 40 mm aluminum section with different lengths
• Support for Direct Drive base with front mounting
• Highly modular chassis with various optional accessories (seat, supports, etc.)
• Dimensions: 1350 x 580 x 770 mm (L x W x H)
• Chassis delivered disassembled
• Supports adjustable to different angles
• Maximum pilot size 2 m

Design

Let’s start with the design. The P1X Pro is a minimalist chassis, I must say. Black dominates everything, with a few logos here and there on the support arms. Even if you opt for a Simlab seat, only one is brightly colored (blue), and the others are all black and gray.

Otherwise, the shape is pretty standard for the segment. The P1X Pro has a side mount for a handbrake and/or shifter, and the bottom bracket is simple, as is that of the Direct Drive chainstay. Overall, the P1X Pro is a chassis that I find beautiful and minimalist, making it perfect for simple setups.

Customize device mounting

In its standard configuration, i.e. without accessories, the P1X Pro can accommodate Direct Drive bases with front mounting. So you can attach Simagic, Moza, Simucube and all the rest. As for the pedalboard, it’s a plate that can take virtually any peripheral currently available on the market. It’s very solid, and will easily take the braking force of Load Cells. On the right-hand side of the chassis, you’ll also find a bracketfor a gearshift and/or brake.

As an option, free of charge for the base support, you can opt for a “wheeldeck” which allows the bases to be attached from below, as seen on Fanatec bases, and you also have a specific support for bases from the German brand (Fanatec).

As for the seat, Simlab offers 4 with a sliding mounting system. Of course, this system is standard, and you’ll be able to install seats from other brands.

Another point worth mentioning is monitor support. The P1X Pro can accommodate one or three monitors, thanks to its supports Vario which are also optional.

Manufacturing and finishing

The P1X Pro uses aluminum profiles in various sizes. These include the base structure (160×40 mm), uprights (120×40 mm), accessory supports (80×40 mm) and seat slide (40×40 mm).

This choice of materials is crucial if we are to have not only an ultra-rigid structure, but also a modular one, capable of both adapting to your needs and accommodating new chassis components as required.

The construction is solid, whether it’s the base structure, the uprights or any other support. The fastening bolts are allen bolts, and on each profile you have a kind of slide to adapt the position of the supports.

As for the finish, all P1X Pro parts are machined to perfection. However, the paint is not baked on all parts, and you’ll inevitably get scratches on the supports if you’re not careful. And that’s a shame, because otherwise, the P1X Pro would have been simply perfect. I’m in favor of raising the price a little, and having an excellent paint that stands up to daily use all over the chassis.

Cockpit assembly

Of course, the P1X Pro comes completely disassembled. And that’s only to be expected, given the size and weight of this beast. It’s up to you to assemble the cockpit, much to the dismay of those who don’t know how to handle an Allen key.

All screws and bolts are supplied in resealable bags, so they don’t get lost. As for the instruction manual, it’s superbly detailed, but in digital format. There’s a QR Code inside, requiring the use of a smartphone or laptop to follow the assembly steps.

In all honesty, the P1X Pro assembly operation isn’t all that complex, but it’s clearly tedious with just one pair of hands. Get a friend or relative to assemble the P1X Pro, and you’ll be ready to go in just a few hours. If you’re a handyman who’s handled Lego before, it should take you 4 hours at most, taking it easy so as not to damage the paint, which unfortunately isn’t baked on.

Sensations during play

Once assembled and equipped with your sim-racing peripherals, the P1X Pro is ready to race. On board, you’ll immediately feel secure, because the P1X Pro is ultra-rigid. It won’t budge at all, even when you’re using a big, heavy Direct Drive base. The P1X Pro is capable of handling the torque of a Fanatec DD2, an Asetek Invicta, a Moza R21 and so on. Do you see what I’m getting at? Because all the bases I’ve just mentioned develop more than 20 nm of torque.

For the driving position, the seat is adjustable, as is the seat rail. The bucket from Simlab doesn’t budge, while offering excellent back support, and yet the P1X Pro is mounted on small feet that are below its main structure. The same goes for the bottom bracket, which I didn’t notice flexing at all under heavy braking with a 100 kg LC. It has to be said that this chassis is built like a rock. The aluminum profile is to blame, and I appreciate Simlab’s choice of materials.

Another point that may be of interest to some is the screen support. You can, of course, adjust the screen as you like using 4 bolts, and even if you put a heavy monitor on it, the structure doesn’t seem to be affected by the additional weight.

Compatibility

The P1X Pro is compatible with virtually all sim-racing peripherals available on the market, including those from Fanatec, Simagic, Simucube, Logitech, Thrustmaster, Moza, Asetek and others. All you need to do is choose the right DD base and you’re ready to go.

In addition, the entire Simlab catalog is supported by the P1X Pro, whether in terms of optional brackets, buckets, dashboard, etc. Everything can be mounted on this chassis without the slightest problem, thanks to the aluminum profile.

Value for money

In barebone configuration, the P1X Pro costs €799 incl. VAT, regardless of the DD base support chosen. For 800 bucks, that’s really not too bad, especially as the P1X Pro is an excellent sim-racing chassis that’s both ultra-rigid and extremely modular.

However, you’ll need a bucket for track driving, and at Simlab they cost between €399 and €599. If you take all the accessories available on the P1X Pro configurator, you’ll end up with a bill approaching €1,700.

My verdict

The P1X Pro’s few shortcomings pale in comparison with its build quality, rigidity and modularity. Once again, Simlab has given us an excellent chassis that is affordable (if you can control your impulses regarding options and accessories), rigid and modular. It’s a cockpit I’d recommend, and one I really like.