A stiffer sim rig does not add raw speed, but it makes you more consistent, and consistency is what turns into faster lap times. When the wheel deck and pedal deck stay still, every brake press and steering input ends up in the game instead of in a bending frame. Over a full race, that precision often saves more time than a new setup file.
So the real question is how much stiffness you need. The answer depends on your wheelbase torque and your brake force. Below we explain both in plain words.
What does rig flex do to your driving?
Flex is any movement of the frame that you did not ask for.
Flex under braking
A load cell brake measures force, not travel. When you press hard, a weak pedal deck bends away from your foot. Part of your force then goes into the frame and not into the sensor. Your brake point shifts from lap to lap, and you lock up or brake too early without knowing why. Many drivers on r/simracing describe the same thing: once their pedals felt rock solid, their braking became more precise.
Flex under steering
A direct drive wheelbase sends sharp torque spikes through the wheel deck. On a soft deck the whole wheel shakes a little, so fine detail in the force feedback turns into noise. You feel the frame instead of the tyre.
SIMGASM | Sport Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Black
Does stiffness make you faster or more consistent?
The honest answer is consistency first and speed second.
Consistency is the real gain
A stiff rig does not turn a slow driver into a fast one overnight. What it does is remove one random factor. When the same brake force gives the same result every lap, you learn faster and you trust your inputs. That trust shows up in your lap times after a few sessions, not after one lap.
Comfort counts just as much
Johan Akkerman, founder of SIMGASM, won the DNRT BMW E30 Cup in 2023 and 2024 in real racing. That experience taught him that a simulator needs more than outright stiffness. Comfort, adjustability and seating geometry decide how consistent you stay in a long race. A rock solid rig with a poor driving position still makes you slower in the final stint.
How stiff does your rig need to be?
Match the frame to the torque and brake force you actually use.
Profile size in practice
A bigger aluminium profile resists bending better. The SIMGASM range steps up from 40 × 40 mm on the Hobby to 40 × 80 mm on the Club, 40 × 120 mm on the Sport and 40 × 160 mm on the Pro. The rated braking load at the pedal deck rises with it, from 150 kg on the Hobby and 200 kg on the Club to 300 kg on the Sport and the Pro. For a full comparison, read which aluminium profile size a sim racing rig needs.
Where the Sport fits
The 40x120 sim racing cockpit is built for serious direct drive and load cell setups. It carries a rated braking load of 300 kg at the pedal deck. Many drivers set a load cell brake somewhere between 50 and 100 kg, so even a firm setting uses only a part of that rating. To understand those numbers, read how much pedal braking force a cockpit needs.
SIMGASM | Sport Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Silver
How do you check your own rig for flex?
You need no special tools for a first test, only your eyes and a phone.
The brake and wheel test
Film the pedal deck from the side while you press the brake as hard as you do in a race. Then film the wheel deck while you turn the wheel fast from lock to lock with high force feedback. Any visible bounce or twist is flex. Our guide on how to spot flex in a sim racing rig and fix it explains the most common fixes.
Fix the frame before you buy a new one
Loose bolts cause many flex problems. A frame that was tightened before it was square keeps moving too. Square the frame, torque the bolts in sequence and test again. Our guide on how to clean a SIMGASM Sport cockpit includes a quick bolt check as part of the routine.
SIMGASM | Sport Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Blue
Why does SIMGASM care so much about stiffness?
The team behind the Sport has driven and tested a long list of rigs.
Experience from both sides of the market
Before he founded SIMGASM, Johan Akkerman worked at Trak Racer, where he grew to Chief Business Officer and helped test and develop the TRX chassis. In esports he won the 2019 Project CARS 2 world team championship with VP Gaming. His own simulator today is a SIMGASM Sport with a Formula Atlas seat, VR and motion.
Tested as a complete simulator
SIMGASM started product development in January 2026 and was formally registered on 27 February 2026 in Wijk bij Duurstede, the Netherlands. Every product is tested as part of a complete simulator, because stiffness only pays off when the whole chain from seat to wheel works together.
Quick answers about rig stiffness
These are the questions we hear most about flex and speed.
Does a stiffer rig lower your lap times right away?
Rarely on the first lap. The gain comes from more consistent braking and clearer force feedback over several sessions.
Is a 40x120 profile stiff enough for direct drive?
For most direct drive and load cell setups, yes. The Sport carries a rated 300 kg braking load, and the Pro adds extra headroom with a 40 × 160 mm profile and steel reinforcement at critical points.
Does a heavy rig mean a stiff rig?
Not always. Stiffness comes from profile size, bracket design and tight, square joints, not from weight alone.
Want to learn more? The SIMGASM experts are happy to help.
