Next Level Racing GT Elite vs F-GT Elite: What's The Difference? (2024)

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Next Level Racing are specialists in producing excellent sim rigs and sim racing co*ckpits. However, their naming convention can lead to confusion. A quick example is the F-GT Elite and GT Elite co*ckpits. Both have incredibly similar names, but there is a £/$400 price difference.

To add to the confusion, you also have the F-GT Elite Lite and F-GT Elite 160, along with multiple special editions. Despite the similar names that Next Level Racing give their products, what is the difference between the GT Elite vs F-GT Elite co*ckpits?

In this guide, I’ll examine both of these Next Level Racing sim rigs to highlight their differences and answer the question of why the F-GT Elite is almost double the price.

Technical spec comparison of the F-GT Elite vs GT Elite

Before I delve into both co*ckpits, along with their similarities and differences, I first want to highlight the technical specs of both the F-GT Elite and GT Elite.

	F-GT Elite	GT Elite
Price	£999 / $999	£599 / $599
Seating Position	F1, GT & Hybrid	GT Only
Dimensions	148 x 82.5 x 86.5cm	120 x 70 x 84cm

Similarities between the two co*ckpits

I’m going to start by looking at how the Next Level Racing F-GT Elite and GT Elite co*ckpits are similar because they share many design and functionality features.

At first glance, the two look incredibly similar. Both co*ckpits use custom 100x40mm aluminium profiles for the majority of the frame, and the layout of these strips of extrusion is very similar. Both co*ckpits use an angled design with the vertical wheel mounting frame swooped back towards the driver.

This style of co*ckpit is becoming increasingly commonplace among sim racing brands as it allows more room to get into and out of the racing seat. The newer Sim-Lab co*ckpits, including the P1X Pro, which I reviewed, also embrace this slanted vertical design.

You get a range of additional accessories and mounting points with both co*ckpits. They both come packaged with seat mounts, although these do differ slightly in their design. The same is true with the included shifter mounts. The F-GT Elite and GT Elite include additional mounting for shifters, but the design is slightly different.

Both co*ckpits can be fitted with various racing wheel mounts, including wheel plates or side mounting brackets. The F-GT Elite and GT Elite are compatible with the same pedals, racing wheels, and racing seats.

What are the differences between the two co*ckpits

The two Next Level Racing co*ckpits are different in a few ways. The F-GT Elite has additional mounting placements that let you alter the angle of your racing seat to be much more reclined than the GT Elite. You can also adjust your pedals much more with the F-GT Elite compared to the GT Elite which offers minimal adjustments.

Seating position differences

One of the key differences between the two co*ckpits is the positions in which you can configure the racing seat and pedals. The extra letter in the name between GT Elite and F-GT Elite signifies Next Level Racing’s “Formula” style co*ckpits.

Therefore, the F-GT Elite is designed to accommodate a formula-seating position. It achieves this by adjusting some of the components of the sim rig. I mentioned that the seat brackets are slightly different. The F-GT Elite has large brackets that allow for a greater range of adjustment. This lets sim racers angle the seat much more aggressively, resulting in a more reclined position.

Pedal mounting and adjustability upgrades

The pedal mounting has also been changed with the F-GT Elite to match this more angled seat position. While the GT Elite mounts the pedals to two strips of 40x40mm aluminium extrusions pivoted from the bottom of the sim rig frame, the F-GT Elite moves the pivot position to the vertical struts. This allows the bottom of the pedal plate to be mounted anywhere up the vertical frame.

Then, there are two very large pedal mounting plates that only come with the F-GT Elite. These let you angle the pedals at an incredible height. It is important, if you are racing in an F1 seating position, that you adjust your pedals to be as high as your seat. And you can certainly achieve this aggressive position with the F-GT Elite co*ckpit.

Shifter mount upgrades

The shifter mount is one last area of improvement that the F-GT Elite has over the cheaper GT Elite. The more affordable GT Elite co*ckpit includes a single piece of extrusion that is mounted to the vertical upright only. This juts out towards the driver and allows you to mount a shifter or handbrake.

The F-GT Elite includes a shifter mount that is constructed from two parts. The horizontal piece of the mount is the same, however, there is an included vertical frame that secures the shifter mount in place. During use, this will help reduce and flex or wobble that may come from the shifter area.

Other variations of the F-GT Elite and GT Elite

I mentioned at the very beginning of this guide, just how confusing Next Level Racing’s naming convention can be. This typically originates from NLR having two distinct co*ckpit styles, formula and GT, and then expanding upon those with multiple variations.

The Next Level Racing formula range of co*ckpits includes;

• F-GT: The F-GT is an all-in-one formula-style co*ckpit.
• F-GT Lite: A lighter-weight version of the F-GT, designed to be more affordable.
• F-GT Elite: A premium 8020 variant of the F-GT improves stability and adjustability.
• F-GT Elite Lite: A more affordable 8020 co*ckpit.
• F-GT Elite 160: The most premium version of the F-GT. Uses a sturdy 160x40mm aluminium frame for maximum rigidity.

Next Level Racing has partnered with various car manufacturers and brands to offer special edition co*ckpits. You may find any of the co*ckpits above available in these special editions. NLR have Ferrari, Ford and iRacing special editions of the premium F-GT Elite co*ckpits.

Next Level Racing has also expanded the variations of its GT co*ckpits to include;

• GT Lite: A collapsible and lightweight all-in-one co*ckpit with a thin metal frame.
• GT Lite Pro: A slightly sturdier version of the GT Lite offering more stability.
• GT Track: An all-in-one GT-style co*ckpit, similar to the F-GT aimed more at GT racing.
• GT Elite: The premium 8020 aluminium profile GT co*ckpit.
• GT Elite Lite: A lighter 8020 co*ckpit with a lower price point.

Shop all of Next Level Racing’s co*ckpits on their official website.

Final thoughts: Is the F-GT Elite better than the GTElite co*ckpit?

Moving away from looking at the endless variations of the Next Level Racing F-GT and GT co*ckpits, I want to answer whether the F-GT Elite is the better co*ckpit. The answer is a resounding yes. The improvements that the F-GT Elite bring over the GT Elite improve the adjustability and rigidity of the co*ckpit, making it, without a doubt, the better of the two.

Will Ford at Boosted Media said in his comparison of the two co*ckpits that the “differences are barely noticeable while driving, it is important to realise that the F-GT Elite is overall more solid than the GT-Elite.“

The second question is whether the F-GT Elite is worth the extra £/$400 over the GTElite. The answer is much tougher. At £/$599 for the GTElite frame, it is a great co*ckpit that offers everything you’d expect from an aluminium profile sim rig.

It does lack some adjustability that other co*ckpits offer, and you are limited in how you position your seat. If you like to sim race Formula or open-wheeled games, you may not find the perfect driving position with the GTElite. Upgrading to the F-GT Elite will most certainly allow you to position your seat, pedals, and racing wheel in the ultimate Formula seating position.

When spending the large amount of money that a sim rig demands, it may be better to purchase the F-GT Elite once, rather than upgrading from the GTElite at some point down the line. However, this sentiment is only really true if you require a formula-style sim racing co*ckpit.

Read our guide on the best aluminium profile sim rigs to view our recommended alternatives to these Next Level Racing co*ckpits.