The Next Level Racing RC Foldable and RC Essential enter one of the most competitive parts of sim racing: affordable complete cockpits for drivers moving beyond a desk clamp or wheel stand. Next Level Racing lists both models as tested with direct-drive wheelbases up to 13 Nm and prices both at €349 in Europe.
That puts them close to another compact option: the SIMGASM Hobby cockpit with the Core Bucket seat. At the standard prices checked on 13 August 2026, a €249 Hobby cockpit plus the €99 Core Bucket totals €348 before shipping, an optional seat slider or other accessories. The Core Bucket was marked as backorder with expected stock unavailable at that check, so availability must be confirmed before ordering. SIMGASM's cockpit guidance supports the Hobby with wheelbases up to and including 16 Nm.
The prices are almost identical, but these are not three versions of the same idea. The RC Foldable prioritises folding and storage as one system. The RC Essential offers a conventional complete tubular cockpit. The SIMGASM Hobby uses a modular aluminium-profile frame and pairs it with a seat that folds for storage only.
This article compares published specifications and confirmed product information. It is not a hands-on review of the new RC models, and the published torque limits do not replace a shared comparative laboratory test.
What are the RC Foldable and RC Essential?
Next Level Racing introduced the RC Series for customers progressing from a desk-mounted wheel, entry-level setup or wheel stand. The manufacturer lists both models as tested with direct-drive wheelbases up to 13 Nm and says they will be available globally from August 2026.
The RC Essential, also called the RC E, is the more traditional complete cockpit. It includes a GT-style seat made with SIMAERO Mesh, synthetic suede and cold-moulded foam. Its published features include an adjustable wheel deck, an adjustable pedal plate and an included seat slider.
The RC Foldable, or RC F, is built around storage. Next Level Racing describes it as its first foldable cockpit with a dedicated racing seat. The complete setup can fold away with the hardware installed and be stored vertically in a closet or against a wall when it is not in use. That is its clearest advantage in a bedroom, office or shared room where the cockpit cannot stay in its driving position.
Both models carry the same advertised European price of €349. The choice between them is therefore less about price and more about whether you want a conventional all-in-one frame or a cockpit designed to fold as a complete system.
How is the SIMGASM Hobby with Core Bucket different?
The SIMGASM Hobby cockpit range is a compact aluminium-profile platform. It is available with bottom-mount, front-mount, side-mount and Asetek front-mount configurations. You choose the mount that fits your wheelbase instead of relying on one universal wheel deck.
SIMGASM positions Hobby for occasional racers, first-time rig owners and families who want a proper fixed simulator without the size and weight of a larger competition cockpit. Under SIMGASM's current selection guidance, it is suitable for direct-drive wheelbases up to and including 16 Nm.
The aluminium-profile layout also provides a modular adjustment and personalisation path. The official Hobby assembly guide shows wheel-support height and angle adjustment, pedal-deck height and angle adjustment, and three pedal-support profiles that can be spaced to suit the pedal set. The seat cross-brackets are positioned during assembly, while an optional dual-locking slider adds convenient fore-and-aft adjustment. The slider is not included in the standard Hobby or Core price.
The slotted profiles also provide documented attachment points. The included shifter arm can be mounted on the left or right and oriented around accessory needs, while supported add-ons include monitor stands, chassis extensions, a PC shelf and alternative wheel mounts. Every accessory and wheelbase still needs its own compatibility check. Because the wheel mount is selected separately, the same Hobby range covers bottom, front, side and Asetek front mounting, whereas the RC models use integrated adjustable wheel decks.
Colour is another meaningful difference. The official NLR launch pages currently show both RC models with black tubular frames, while the current Hobby collection shows standard black, white and silver; orange, green, blue, red, gold and purple; and JPS, RothBros and MARINI liveries. Prices and availability vary by finish, but the choice lets a compact cockpit match the rest of a room or simulator rather than looking like one fixed entry-level package.
The Core Bucket Racing Seat has a fixed driving angle. It is important not to call it a reclining seat. Its mechanism lets the backrest collapse into a compact storage position. The Hobby pedal section can also slide inward, reducing the space occupied by the assembled setup when it is not being used.
This does not turn the Hobby into a one-step folding cockpit. Moving it under a suitable desk or into a staircase cupboard or storage room takes more preparation than folding the RC F. Its advantage is different: the wheelbase, pedals, seat and future accessories sit on a modular aluminium structure that can evolve with the setup.
RC Foldable vs RC Essential vs Hobby with Core at a glance
| Question | NLR RC Foldable | NLR RC Essential | SIMGASM Hobby + Core Bucket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advertised European hardware price | €349 | €349 | €348 for a standard €249 Hobby plus €99 Core, checked 13 August 2026 |
| Seat in the stated price | Yes | Yes | Yes, as two separately purchased products in the combined total |
| Published/tested direct-drive guidance | Tested up to 13 Nm | Tested up to 13 Nm | Supported up to and including 16 Nm |
| Main construction idea | Complete foldable tubular cockpit | Complete conventional tubular cockpit | Modular aluminium-profile cockpit |
| Storage approach | Folds as a complete setup and can be stored vertically in a closet or against a wall | Remains a conventional assembled cockpit | Pedal section slides inward; Core backrest folds for storage; assembled rig must still be moved or parked |
| Wheelbase mounting | Confirm the official compatibility list before purchase | Confirm the official compatibility list before purchase | Choice of bottom, front, side or Asetek front mount |
| Pedal and seat positioning | Next Level Racing states extensive adjustability; confirm the exact mechanisms on the live product page | Adjustable pedal plate and wheel deck; seat slider included | Pedal-deck height and angle plus adjustable pedal-profile spacing; adjustable seat cross-brackets; fore-and-aft slider optional |
| Best fit | Maximum storage convenience | Simple all-in-one entry cockpit | Compact direct drive with a modular upgrade path |
Prices, stock and taxes can change. Colour, livery, wheel-mount choice, shipping, a seat slider and accessories can also affect the final checkout total. The €348 comparison applies only to a standard Hobby configuration listed at €249 and the Core Bucket listed at €99 on 13 August 2026; it is not the price of every Hobby version or a promise of current stock. The Core Bucket was listed as backorder with expected stock unavailable when this comparison was prepared.
Which option is best for a small room?
Choose the RC Foldable when the cockpit must disappear after almost every session. Folding the full setup and storing it vertically in a closet or against a wall is a more direct storage feature than simply making a fixed rig shorter. It is the clearest answer for a room that regularly changes function.
Choose the SIMGASM Hobby with Core Bucket when you can store or park an assembled aluminium rig and want more room to change the configuration later. Sliding the pedal section inward and folding the Core backrest can make it easier to move the setup under a suitable desk or into a staircase cupboard or storage area. This is a qualitative storage benefit, not a guarantee that it will fit every space. Measure the complete build with the wheelbase, pedals, seat and accessories installed.
Choose the RC Essential when folding is not necessary and you want a complete seat-and-frame package without selecting separate cockpit and seat components. Its included slider and adjustable contact points make it a straightforward entry into a fixed driving position.
Which cockpit suits a 13 Nm, 15 Nm or 16 Nm wheelbase?
For wheelbases up to 13 Nm, all three options sit within their respective published or tested guidance. The decision can therefore focus on storage, mounting, driving frequency and upgrade plans.
At 15 or 16 Nm, the published benchmarks separate them. NLR lists both RC models as tested with wheelbases up to 13 Nm and notes that higher-torque bases may be installed, although performance and stability can vary with settings, mounting position and use. SIMGASM's current selection guidance supports Hobby up to and including 16 Nm. These are statements from different brands, not measurements from one shared test method.
Torque is not the only load on a cockpit. A strong load-cell brake, a heavy wheelbase, a shifter and additional accessories can change how the complete setup feels. If you race frequently or already expect a larger accessory build, compare the full SIMGASM cockpit range rather than choosing by torque alone.
Why the Hobby pedal platform matters
Next Level Racing describes the RC range as value-focused and uses a tubular cockpit structure. Its launch information calls the RC Essential pedal plate advanced, but the official RC material reviewed for this comparison does not publish a braking-load figure that can be compared directly with SIMGASM's.
SIMGASM has published an internal Hobby pedal-tray stress-test Short. SIMGASM states that 600 kg was applied during that static demonstration without visible damage or permanent deformation.
This video documents the specific internal static demonstration shown. The stated 600 kg is not a user braking-load rating, an independent certification, a repeated fatigue test or a head-to-head test against either RC cockpit. SIMGASM has not tested an RC Essential beside the Hobby under one shared protocol. The evidence supports confidence in the Hobby tray, but it does not prove that Hobby is stronger than the RC series under a common method.
Johan Akkerman's SIMGASM Hobby first-look video gives a closer view of the frame, pedal section, wheel-mounting area and overall proportions. It is SIMGASM product material, not an independent review.
Mounting and upgrade path matter as much as storage
The RC models are designed as complete value-focused cockpits. That simplicity is useful for a first setup, but buyers should still check Next Level Racing's official compatibility list for the exact wheelbase and pedal set before ordering.
The Hobby takes a component-based approach. Its different wheel-mount versions cover bottom-mounted bases, front-mounted bases, side-mounted bases and Asetek front mounting. The official guide shows that wheel-support height and angle are set before final tightening, which helps align the hardware with the driver rather than treating the wheel mount as a fixed shelf.
The same principle continues through the cockpit. The pedal deck can be set for height and angle, its support profiles can be spaced around the pedal set, and the seat position is established on adjustable cross-brackets. A separate slider can add convenient fore-and-aft movement. The slotted profiles provide attachment points for the included left-or-right shifter arm and compatible add-ons.
That does not automatically make every accessory compatible, and it does not mean a Hobby should carry every possible high-end build. Check the live compatibility information for every wheelbase and add-on. The advantage is a clearer path to reposition or add components without replacing the complete chassis.
Which compact cockpit should you choose?
There is no honest universal winner.
- Choose RC Foldable if folding the complete simulator and storing it vertically is the priority.
- Choose RC Essential if you want a complete €349 cockpit and do not need it to fold.
- Choose SIMGASM Hobby with Core Bucket if you want an aluminium-profile cockpit, several wheel-mount choices and published support up to 16 Nm at a comparable standard starting price.
The key question is what must happen after you stop racing. If the cockpit must leave the room, the RC Foldable has the clearest advantage. If it can remain assembled but needs to become shorter and easier to park, Hobby with Core offers a different compromise with more mounting choice and a slightly higher published torque ceiling.
Frequently asked questions
Which cockpit supports the strongest direct-drive wheelbase?
Next Level Racing lists both the RC Foldable and RC Essential as tested with wheelbases up to 13 Nm. SIMGASM's selection guidance supports the Hobby cockpit up to and including 16 Nm. These are published or tested benchmarks, not results from one shared laboratory test, so they should not be treated as directly equivalent engineering certifications.
Do the NLR RC cockpits and SIMGASM Hobby with Core cost the same?
They were almost the same at the standard prices checked on 13 August 2026. NLR advertised both RC models at €349 in Europe. A standard SIMGASM Hobby listed at €249 plus a €99 Core Bucket totalled €348 before shipping, an optional seat slider or accessories. The Core Bucket was listed as backorder with expected stock unavailable at that check, and prices and availability can change.
Is the SIMGASM Core Bucket a reclining seat?
No. The Core Bucket uses a fixed driving angle. Its backrest can fold into a compact position for storage, but the mechanism is not a reclining comfort adjustment. Lock it in its intended driving position before use.
Which cockpit is easiest to store in a small home?
The RC Foldable offers the most direct storage solution because the complete setup folds and can be stored vertically in a closet or against a wall. Hobby with Core can become more compact by sliding the pedal section inward and folding the seat for storage, but it remains an assembled aluminium cockpit that must be moved or parked.
About the author
SIMGASM B.V. — Written with technical input from Johan Akkerman, founder and CEO of SIMGASM B.V. Johan combines experience in sim racing, motorsport and technical product development to help drivers choose practical simulator hardware for their space, driving style and upgrade plans.
