Simlab GT1 Pro

Our rating : 9.7/10

Simlab has quite a long history when it comes to sim-racing cockpits. The European company is world-renowned for its cockpits, which are often considered premium, modular and, above all, of the highest quality.

Simlab covers a wide range of virtual pilots with aluminum profile chassis. The idea is to offer a product that is solid, modular, modern and relatively attractively priced. And I have to say, the brand is doing pretty well. Among Simlab’s chassis, we have the GT1 Pro, an aluminum cockpit aimed at endurance and GT enthusiasts. In what follows, we’ll test this cockpit and see what it has to offer.

Chassis main and technical features

• Aluminium profile frame
• Dimensions: 1350 mm x 580 mm x 770 mm
• Available with a range of accessories for chassis customization
• Compatible with many factory sim-racing peripherals
• Configurable with or without monitor brackets
• Crankset support for up to 200 kg of pressure

Design

The GT1 Pro’s design is very Simlab: a single-color chassis, in this case black, with little brand logo. There’s a cut-out “Simlab” on the bottom bracket, another painted white on the uprights of the base deck, and then that’s it.

So yes, the chassis is sober, but the brand also knows how to do flashy things, notably with its famous Speed 1 blue bucket seat. Don’t worry, there are other seat choices available, some of which are perfect for maintaining the minimalist look of the chassis.

Customized assembly

Obviously, such a cockpit will be delivered completely disassembled, and you’ll have to assemble it yourself. It’s relatively easy to do, if you’re into a bit of DIY.

The GT1 Pro is made up of several parts and brackets that serve as the structure of the chassis. I advise you to get some help when assembling the chassis. Chassis are far from being easy pieces of equipment to assemble, even if some brands make the effort to simplify assembly.

Just one point: make sure you order the accessories you need to get everything from Simlab. If you don’t have a bucket, the brand offers several on the GT1 Pro product page.

Manufacturing and finishing

With an 80×40 mm aluminum profile, and above all a reputation to uphold, Simlab has pulled out all the stops with the GT1 Pro. In terms of build quality, you’re well served with a premium chassis in every respect. From the cut-outs to the brackets and mounting points, everything about this chassis is absolutely perfect.

As for the finish, it’s simply flawless. The square tubes are very well cut, with a finish that prevents injury, too, and the brackets fit together to the millimetre, giving the GT1 Pro a structure that can take any sim-racing setup.

As I said above, Simlab has a reputation, and above all standards, to uphold when it comes to its products, and the GT1 Pro doesn’t disappoint in this respect.

Chassis adjustment

The GT1 Pro is first and foremost a GT chassis, as the name suggests. You can race endurance, GT, rally, touring, drift and even a little Formula. This is made possible by the chassis’ modularity.

The base deck can be adjusted for height, tilt and depth. The bottom bracket is more or less the same, with an emphasis on rigidity (it can take 200 kg of force). As for the seat, it all depends on the seat you order or the one you have.

Simlab allows you to configure the GT1 Pro with several bucket options, which can be supplied with brackets and runners, making the chassis tuning operation even easier. The brand stands for the complete turnkey solution, and that’s why the GT1 Pro is not only a highly modular chassis, but also surprisingly easy to adjust to your preferred types of racing, and your ergonomic needs.

Sensations during play

Let’s take a look at what Simlab’s GT1 Pro has to offer in the race. First of all, rigidity is just exceptional on this chassis, and I have to admit that I’d expect nothing less from a premium piece of equipment from Simlab.

The bottom bracket is very solid, capable of withstanding even the toughest sim-racing peripherals, with 200 kg of force applied to them. The support plate will not move at all when racing, even during heavy braking. It’s very solid, which gives you confidence in your riding skills and allows you to push the equipment even further.

As far as the base deck is concerned, it’s practically the same as with the bottom bracket. On the brand’s website, and also on the GT1 Pro page, you’ll find Fanatec Podium DD2 and Simucube 2 Pro. This means that the cockpit is designed to accommodate Direct Drive chainstays delivering over 20 nm of torque.

I can tell you that the deck showed no sign of flexing during my use in the test or in my sim-racing sessions. It’s ultra-rigid, and typical of what Simlab offers. I know, I’m repeating myself a little, but the brand is premium, so…

I noticed that the Sparco seat offered superb lateral support, and also in the lower back, more specifically the lumbar region. In absolute terms, it won’t do you much good, unless you convert the GT1 Pro into a dynamic chassis. But I must admit, it’s nice to have that feeling of being embraced by the bucket.

Compatibility

The GT1 Pro’s compatibility with sim-racing pedalboards is very broad, with an exhaustive list of peripherals. The support can withstand 200 kg of force applied to it, more than enough to run errands with a Load Cell or hydraulic crankset.

For the base deck, you can choose between front or bottom mounting. The list of compatible DD bases is equally extensive, with Simagic, Simucube, Fanatec, Logitech and many more.

For the seat, all you need is a slide and you’ll be well served. Of course, you can opt for the options offered by Simlab and its tubs.

Value for money

As usual with Simlab’s chassis, the GT1 Pro starts at an affordable price, and costs almost 3 times as much when fully optioned. Its starting price is around €650 bare-bone, without any accessories or support. And if you tick all the boxes on Simlab’s configurator, the GT1 Pro will cost you €1,672.

So yes, it’s expensive, but if you only take the bucket with the cockpit, you’ll end up with a bill of around €1,000 for a rigid, modular and highly immersive chassis.

My verdict

If you’re looking for the perfect chassis to do it all in sim-racing, then the GT1 Pro is the cockpit for you. It’s high-quality, rigid, modular and, above all, affordable – without checking off all the options available on the product page, of course.

I’d recommend this cockpit if you dabble in sim-racing, with its emphasis on GT racing. The GT1 Pro can even be used on F1 configurations, but with less immersion provided for the racers.