The jump from a SIMGASM Hobby to a Sport is worth it when you run a strong direct drive wheelbase, a firm load cell brake or plan to add motion. The Sport uses a 40 × 120 mm main profile and a pedal deck rated for 300 kg, against 40 × 40 mm and 150 kg on the Hobby. If you race on an entry wheel and space is tight, the Hobby stays the smarter buy.
Many buyers look at the two ends of the range first and skip the Club in between. Below we compare both cockpits on strength, size, features and upgrade path.
What is the real difference between Hobby and Sport?
The difference starts with the size of the aluminium profile.
Profile and strength
The Hobby uses a 40 × 40 mm main profile, and the Sport uses 40 × 120 mm. That is three times the profile height. The rated braking load at the pedal deck goes from 150 kg on the Hobby to 300 kg on the Sport. In practice, the Hobby feels solid with entry wheels and light load cells, while the Sport stays still under strong direct drive torque and a hard brake.
Size on the floor
The Hobby measures 500 × 1270 × 580 mm (W × L × H). The Sport measures 580 × 1320 × 720 mm. So the Sport is 8 cm wider, 5 cm longer and 14 cm taller. Check how much space you need for a sim racing cockpit before you choose.
SIMGASM | Sport Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Orange
Which features do you only get on the Sport?
Beyond strength, the Sport adds a few practical extras.
Cable routing and motion readiness
The Sport lists integrated cable passthroughs and a motion ready construction among its key features. The Hobby is described as a compact entry platform, built around footprint and value. If you want a clean build or plan to add actuators later, that difference alone often decides it.
What comes in the box
Both cockpits include the wheel mount you pick at checkout, the assembly hardware and tools, white assembly gloves and the assembly guide. The Hobby ships with the Core side profile arm for a shifter or handbrake, and the Sport with the Apex side profile arm. The Sport also adds a heel rest and rubber feet.
SIMGASM | Sport Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Red
When is the Hobby the better choice?
More frame is not always better, and the Hobby has clear strengths.
Entry wheels and small rooms
If you race on a Logitech, a Thrustmaster or an entry direct drive base, the Hobby gives you a stable, permanent driving position. It is the most compact frame in the range and the value led choice when footprint and entry price matter most. Look at the Hobby aluminium sim racing cockpit range if this sounds like you.
What about the Club?
The Club sits in between with a 40 × 80 mm profile and a pedal deck rated for 200 kg. Many drivers who find the Hobby too small and the Sport too big land there. Read our Club or Sport comparison to see where that line sits.
When is the Sport worth the jump?
Two clear signs tell you the Sport is the right buy.
Strong torque and a firm brake
When your wheelbase sends strong torque or your load cell brake is set firm, frame movement becomes easy to feel on a small profile. A stiff frame gives you more consistent braking, as we explain in does a stiffer sim rig make you faster. The Sport deck also suits nearly every pedal type, as covered in which pedals suit a SIMGASM Sport.
You plan to grow
Buying once often costs less than buying twice. If you expect to add motion, a stronger wheelbase or heavier pedals within a few years, the Sport saves you a second frame later. SIMGASM founder Johan Akkerman chose the Sport for his own simulator, which he runs with a Formula Atlas seat, VR and motion.
SIMGASM | Sport Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Black
Who builds these cockpits?
Both tiers come from the same small Dutch team.
From esports to real racing
Johan Akkerman won the 2019 Project CARS 2 world team championship with VP Gaming and later the DNRT BMW E30 Cup in 2023 and 2024. He designs every SIMGASM cockpit and holds final responsibility for product quality. The cockpit range includes patented designs developed around strength, ergonomics, comfort and visual personalization.
Direct from the Netherlands
SIMGASM B.V. was formally registered on 27 February 2026 and sells directly from its base in Wijk bij Duurstede, the Netherlands. Every cockpit comes with a two year warranty. Compare all colours of this racing simulator cockpit in the Sport range.
Quick answers about Hobby and Sport
Here are short answers to the questions buyers ask most.
Is a Hobby upgradable to a Sport later?
The profiles differ in size, so an upgrade means a new frame. Your seat, wheelbase and pedals move across to the new rig.
Is the Sport too big for a beginner?
Not if you have the space and plan to upgrade. If you start with an entry wheel in a small room, the Hobby is the easier start.
Does either cockpit include a seat?
No. Seats and the seat slider are sold separately for every SIMGASM cockpit.
Want to learn more? The SIMGASM experts are happy to help.
