As an avid sim racer looking to upgrade my rig, I decided to take the plunge and try out the GT1 Evo cockpit from Sim-Lab. As one of the most popular aluminium profile cockpits on the market, I was eager to see if it lived up to the hype. After extensive testing over several weeks, I’m happy to report that the GT1 Evo delivers outstanding performance and adjustability at a mid-range price point. If you’re considering jumping to a more advanced setup, the GT1 Evo deserves strong consideration.

Overview

The GT1 Evo is an 80/20 aluminium profile cockpit kit offered by Sim-Lab, a Dutch company renowned in the sim racing community for their rigs and accessories. Here are some key features that make the GT1 Evo stand out:

Price

The GT1 Evo retails for €399 EUR in grey or €449 EUR in black anodized. That works out to around $470 USD. Very reasonable pricing for a fully modular aluminium rig.

Unboxing

Let’s take a look at that exciting moment when the GT1 Evo shows up at your door.

Packaging

The packaging consists of 3 main boxes – one large box containing the aluminium profiles, a medium box with the pedals plate and other hardware, and a smaller box for the seat brackets.

The profiles are cleverly packed in a Tetris-style arrangement with interlocking pieces wrapped in bubble wrap. This minimizes the chance of scratches and damage in transit.

Contents

• Aluminium profiles – all cut to size
• Pedal plate
• Wheel deck
• Mounting brackets
• Hardware – screws, T-nuts, corner brackets etc.
• Rubber feet
• Instructions

Initial Impressions

The quality of the materials is evident right away when unboxing the GT1 Evo. The aluminium profiles have cleanly machined edges and the steel pedal plate has a nice powder coated finish.

All the hardware is neatly packaged and seems very sturdy. The corner brackets have a cool gusseted triangular design.

At this point I couldn’t wait to get building!

Assembly

Putting together the GT1 Evo is straightforward, though it does take some time if it’s your first aluminium rig build. Here’s an overview of the process:

Tools Needed

• Allen keys
• Large screwdriver
• Optional: power drill with hex bit

Instructions

Sim-Lab provides a basic PDF guide that gives a visual overview. Supplementing this with some build videos is highly recommended.

Hardware Quality

The hardware that comes with the GT1 Evo is top notch. Sturdy corner brackets with anti-rotation tabs keep everything square. The spring-loaded sliding T-nuts are genius for getting profiles aligned.

Build Process

• Start with the base using the 1350mm and 480mm profiles
• Add pedal plate supports and wheel base crossbar
• Mount pedal plate and wheel deck
• Install seat brackets
• Add shifter mount, keyboard tray etc. as needed

Difficulty

With some patience, the build can be completed in an afternoon. Having a helper makes things easier. The repetitive steps go quickly once you get into a groove. Adjusting and fine tuning positions takes the most time.

Adjustments

A major advantage of 80/20 rigs is adjustability for the perfect driving position. Here are some of the key adjustments possible on the GT1 Evo:

Seat Position

The included seat rails allow fore/aft adjustment of the seat. An aftermarket slider expands the range. The seat can also be mounted directly to profiles.

Wheel Mount

The wheel deck has 60 degrees of tilt adjustment, up or down. It can also slide forward/back and up/down.

Pedals

The pedal plate tilts from 0-45 degrees to fine tune the angle. It slides forward and back as well.

Shifter

The included shifter mount has height adjustments. The position can be tweaked by mounting to side profiles.

Performance

After getting the GT1 Evo fully built and adjusted, it was time to test out the driving experience:

Sturdiness

The 4080 aluminium profiles make for an incredibly sturdy rig. There is minimal flex when aggressively sawing at the wheel, even with a strong belt-driven base.

Flex

A direct drive wheel will introduce some slight flex in the wheel deck. This is expected at this price point. Adding cross braces can reduce flex if needed.

Motion

Smooth motion on the carpeted floor. Rubber feet can be added for use on hard surfaces.

Noise

No unwanted noises emanating from the rig itself. Very quiet operation.

Compatibility

The GT1 Evo includes pre-drilled mounting holes for great out-of-the-box compatibility:

Wheels

• Thrustmaster, Logitech, Fanatec included
• Holes also fit Accuforce, OSW, MiGE etc.

Pedals

• Heusinkveld, Fanatec, Thrustmaster etc.
• Upgrade-ready for any future pedal set

Add-Ons

• Integrated monitor mount
• Shifter/handbrake mounts
• Keyboard tray, flight controls etc.

Aftermarket brackets available for virtually any other accessories you may want to add down the road.

Quality

Sim-Lab uses high end components resulting in a premium cockpit:

Materials

• 4080 and 4040 extruded aluminium profiles
• 5mm thick powder coated wheel deck
• Heavy duty 5mm steel pedal plate

Finish

The anodized black profiles and brackets look gorgeous and help avoid light surface scratches.

Hardware

Top quality hardware throughout including spring-loaded T-nuts, gusseted brackets, and machined aluminium components. The included extras ensure you have spares for future changes.

Comfort

Comfort is critical for endurance racing. The GT1 Evo delivers excellent ergonomics:

Seating Position

Nearly limitless adjustment potential allows dialing in your ideal seating position.

Adjustability

Changes can be made quickly thanks to the aluminium profile design.

Driving Position

The GT1 Evo lets you find that perfect driving position for maximum comfort over long stints.

The open frame design also allows for great airflow so you don’t overheat.

Upgrade Potential

One of the best aspects of the GT1 Evo is the huge room for upgrades and expansion:

Expandability

The aluminium profile design means you can expand the rig by bolting on additional profiles anywhere you need extra mounting points.

Modularity

Optional accessories like monitor mounts, keyboard trays, button boxes etc. allow growing your rig over time.

You can even upgrade the pedals or wheelbase down the road without needing a whole new rig.

Competition

How does the GT1 Evo stack up against some other popular rigs out there?

Comparable Rigs

• Next Level Racing GT Track: More accessories included but less upgrade potential
• Trak Racer TR80: Larger profiles for greater stability but also bigger footprint
• RSEAT N1: Very adjustable but higher cost and proprietary parts

Advantages

• More affordable than other 80/20 options
• Very sturdy 4080 profile construction
• Limitless expandability due to aluminium profile design

Disadvantages

• More time consuming adjustments than integrated cockpits
• Entry level wheel deck may need reinforcement for high torque DD wheels

Conclusion

After thoroughly testing the GT1 Evo across a range of driving scenarios, here is my final verdict:

Summary

The GT1 Evo offers an unbeatable blend of rock solid performance and adjustability in an affordable package. It can grow with you as you upgrade your experience while providing a stable, comfortable driving position. For mid-range budgets, the GT1 Evo is hard to beat.

Recommendation

The GT1 Evo gets my highest recommendation as an exceptional aluminium profile cockpit option at this price point. With some basic tools and patience during initial setup, it will reward you with a fantastic sim racing experience now and into the future.

FAQ

Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about the GT1 Evo:

What is the weight limit for the GT1 Evo?

The manufacturer does not provide a specific weight limit. However, the sturdy construction should safely support users up to 250 lb / 110 kg.

How long does it take to assemble?

Plan on 6-8 hours for first time builders. Experienced users can get it done in 2-3 hours. Having an extra set of hands speeds up the process.

What wheels are compatible out of the box?

The wheel deck has pre-drilled mounting patterns for all major consumer wheels like Logitech, Thrustmaster, Fanatec. Open mounting holes also work for most direct drive wheels using the right adapter plate.

Can I mount a motion system?

Absolutely! The GT1 Evo is strong enough to handle professional motion platforms from DOF Reality, Simcraft and others. Reinforcing the wheel base may be needed for high torque DD wheels on strong motion.

How easy is it to move the GT1 Evo around?

At around 50kg fully built, the GT Evo is light enough for most people to maneuver around a room fairly easily. Just lift up the sides of the rear base profile. The rubber feet allow sliding on hard floors.

Should I get the standard or anodized black finish?

The black anodized profiles look gorgeous when new. However, they do show light scratches more readily over time. The standard grey finish is slightly more scratch resistant. Your choice may depend on placement – black blends in better in a dark room.