The good and the bad thing about getting into a new hobby in its early stages is that you get to enjoy its purity. That means the essence of what it is and what surrounds it is still in its first steps, reflecting clumsy but honest attempts. In the case of sim racing, we have witnessed this same evolution over the past 20 years.
It started with the most basic hardware elements like steering wheels and peripherals. Once these became more complex and bulky, finding a dedicated place for them became essential. In the past 10 years, we have seen the evolution of cockpits capable of supporting the new and heavy Direct Drive bases. Aluminum has replaced steel, and the first DIY 20×40 profile rigs have evolved into much more sophisticated models with impressive finishes, crafted by well-established companies in the sector.
Today, I have the privilege of talking about one of the most advanced models from Next Level Racing, an Australian company that has followed this path of growth over the years, expanding its catalogue with new models built from custom aluminum profiles.
The F-GT Elite is one of the most advanced aluminum-profile models they offer (there’s an even thicker one), and I’ve had the opportunity to test and enjoy it myself.
Packaging
As you can imagine, it’s a giant package weighing an impressive 53 kg that needs to be delivered on a cart. You’ll need considerable space to maneuver it and enough room to assemble the cockpit from the package’s components.
The packaging is spectacular, not in appearance, but in how carefully each piece is protected to prevent scratches, how they’re arranged, and how secure everything is inside the box. Nothing moves inside; everything is carefully fitted for optimal transport. The necessary tools are included, all bags are labeled, and the provided manual explains everything clearly. As it should always be.
Assembly Options
Some of the pieces included aren’t needed for every configuration. It depends on whether you have a motion unit, a buttkicker, want to adjust the shifter’s position, or plan to tilt the seat to achieve a more formula-style angle. The manual covers these scenarios in detail. In this case (shifter), the base-mount option is a tray that increases compatibility across different models.
Also, you have to notice the incredible attention to detail that this company put in every cockpit. Let’s have a summary of some of them:
- Height Adjustable Shock Absorption Feet (if you have neighbours under, it is recommended)
- Carbon Steel Seat Brackets
- Flex Free Seat Slider System
- Shifter and handbrake support
- Footstep to make getting in and out more comfortable
- Ratchet tool included
- Tool kit holder
- Cable clips (8)
- Buttkicker and Motion adapters and brackets included
- Laser-engraved markings
Assembly
Assembly takes time. The more advanced a cockpit is, the more configuration options and positioning variants it offers. Gone are the days when a simple frame supported the seat and pedals in fixed positions.
Fortunately, the manual guides you step by step, indicating when to insert rectangular t-nuts or which screws and washers to use. Everything is detailed enough that you shouldn’t face major issues following the instructions.
One person in good physical shape can assemble it alone, but for your sanity (and because of the weight of some components), we recommend two people. For example, positioning the wheel plate can be tricky since it requires holding a considerable amount of weight while fitting and tightening screws.
Customization
I’m quite basic in these things, but the seat allows an angled setup to simulate formula-style seating, something we’ll discuss further when reviewing the Hypercool seat. The cockpit manual focuses more on the height and tilt adjustments available for the pedals. It’s so customizable that even tall users can get comfortable in it. I’m just over 1.70 m tall and have the pedals placed at the lowest extreme, fully close to the bridge.
You can install a side-mount for the shifter in two ways, depending on your preferences. You can place it closer to the wheel or to the seat, depending on the car style you want to emulate. You can also ditch the mount entirely and attach the shifter directly to the side bars; that’d be my preferred setup.
Impressions
In terms of finish quality, this cockpit is the best I’ve owned (and seen) in the sim racing world. The graphite-anodized aluminum is flawless, solid, rigid, and beautiful. The assembled structure is rock-solid and resistant to any movement or rough handling. I still need to tweak the distances for full comfort, but with the included tools, this is much quicker than with other brands.
The attention to detail as labeled screws, sufficient quantities, tight-fitting parts, and quick-adjust tools, shows that every element was thoughtfully designed. A detailed manual like the one included is essential for such products and is greatly appreciated.
Conclusions
This cockpit is not only functional but also beautiful and easy to assemble. It takes time to set it up because of its many configuration options, and that’s part of what makes it so advanced.
Next Level Racing offers an even more premium version called the F-GT Elite 160, which I find excessive in profile thickness for typical use. There’s also a slightly more affordable model, the F-GT Elite Lite. In truth, any of Next Level Racing’s aluminum-profile cockpits guarantee exceptional quality and finishes, and you can’t go wrong with any of them.
Additionally, the price range across their lineup makes their products attractive to a wide range of users. This is definitely a wise purchase that will accompany you for many years, as long as your passion for the hobby lasts. This Next Level Racing F-GT Elite Cockpit Wheel Plate Edition is just under 1000 euros with a tagged price of 999 euros. We will review the Hypercool Seat (not included) in the next few days.
Where to buy: You can get it with a 5% discount using the code boxthislap24 at the Next Level Racing store
You can see the Elite and Elite Lite Collection in the next links:
- F-GT Elite 160 (wheel plate)
- F-GT Elite 160 (front mount)
- F-GT Elite 160 (Ferrari Edition)
- F-GT Elite Lite (wheel plate)
- F-GT Elite Lite (front mount)
- GTElite Lite (wheel plate)
- GTElite Lite (front mount)
- GTElite (front mount)
- GTElite (wheel plate)
- F-GT Elite (iRacing Edition)
- F-GT Elite (front mount)
- F-GT Elite (wheel plate)
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