A 40x80 aluminium profile is a frame rail that measures 40 mm wide and 80 mm tall. In a sim racing cockpit, that extra height makes the main rail much stiffer than a square 40x40 rail. The SIMGASM Club uses a 40 × 80 mm main profile, so the base resists bending when you push hard on the brake or run a strong direct drive wheelbase.
So the number is not just a label on a spec sheet. It tells you how much the frame fights back against your hands and feet. Below, we explain what the numbers mean, how they feel on track and when a 40x80 frame is the right step for you.
What do the numbers 40x80 actually mean?
Aluminium profile is sold by its cross section. The first number is the width and the second number is the height, both in millimetres. A 40x40 profile is a square tube with slots on each side. A 40x80 profile is two of those squares stacked on top of each other, with slots on every face.
Those slots are called T slots. Special nuts slide into them, so you bolt brackets anywhere along the rail. That is why profile rigs are so easy to adjust. You loosen two bolts, slide the part and tighten again.
The height of the profile matters most. When you press the brake pedal, the force pushes the pedal deck forward and tries to bend the base upward. A taller rail spreads that load over more material in the direction of the force. In plain words: doubling the height of a beam makes it far more resistant to bending than doubling the width.
SIMGASM | Club Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Black
How does a 40x80 frame feel compared with 40x40?
On a square 40x40 base, you feel a small give at the pedals when you stamp on a stiff brake. The pedal plate moves slightly before the pedal itself starts to travel. On a light setup, most racers never notice this. With a firm load cell brake, it starts to blur your brake feel.
On a 40x80 base, that first bit of movement mostly disappears. The pedal deck stays put, so the pressure you apply goes into the pedal sensor and not into the frame. That gives you a more repeatable brake point, lap after lap. The same is true at the wheel. A strong direct drive wheelbase sends sharp kicks through the mount, and a stiffer base keeps the wheel from shaking.
We explain the square rail side of the story in our guide is a 40x40 sim racing cockpit strong enough in 2026. The short version: 40x40 is fine for most starters, and 40x80 gives you room to grow.
What are the real specs of the SIMGASM Club?
Numbers help here. The SIMGASM Club has overall dimensions of 500 × 1350 × 620 mm (width × length × height). Its pedal deck has a rated braking load of 200 kg. For comparison, the SIMGASM Hobby uses a 40 × 40 mm main profile, measures 500 × 1270 × 580 mm and has a rated braking load of 150 kg.
So the Club is only 80 mm longer and 40 mm taller than the Hobby. It still fits in a normal room. The main change is the base rail, not the footprint. If you want to plan the floor space first, read how much space you need for a sim racing cockpit.
Which wheelbases suit a 40x80 aluminium sim racing cockpit?
SIMGASM rates the Club for wheelbases up to and including 26 Nm. That covers most popular direct drive bases that home racers buy today. Above 26 Nm, SIMGASM advises the Sport or Pro, and above 40 Nm the Pro.
Torque is only part of the check, though. The wheel mount also has to match your base. The Club comes with the wheel mount you pick at checkout. The Bottom Mount covers supported underside patterns from Logitech, Fanatec, MOZA, Thrustmaster, SIMAGIC, PXN, Simucube, Asetek and VRS. The Side Mount covers supported Fanatec, MOZA and SIMAGIC models. The regular Front Mount covers supported Fanatec, Simucube and VRS patterns, and there is a dedicated Asetek Front Mount too.
SIMGASM | Club Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Orange
Why did SIMGASM choose 40x80 for the Club?
Every SIMGASM cockpit tier is built around one main profile size. Hobby uses 40x40, Club uses 40x80 and Sport steps up to 40x120. This makes the range easy to read. The deeper the base rail, the more hardware the frame carries.
Johan Akkerman, founder, CEO and product designer of SIMGASM, designed and led the development of the complete range. He has raced since 2008 and won the 2019 Project CARS 2 world team championship with VP Gaming. He also worked his way up to Chief Business Officer at Trak Racer, where he tested and helped develop the TRX chassis. That mix of racing and product work shows in the Club. It targets the racer who drives several times a week and wants stiffness without paying for features they do not use yet.
SIMGASM also tests every product as part of a complete simulator, not as a loose part on a bench. So the Club is judged with a seat, wheel, pedals and screen fitted, just like at home.
What is in the box?
The Club ships with the aluminium profiles, structural chassis brackets, your chosen wheel mount, assembly hardware and tools, white assembly gloves, the assembly guide and the Core side profile shifter and handbrake arm. The seat, seat slider, wheelbase, pedals and monitor stand are sold separately. That keeps the frame flexible, because you pick the seat and screen that suit you.
Want a rig with a quieter look for a desk room? The Black and White finishes blend in. Want your setup to stand out? Orange, Green, Blue, Red, Gold and Purple are all available, plus livery editions such as RothBros, JPS, MARINI and Aichi.
SIMGASM | Club Aluminum Sim Racing Cockpit - Gold
When is a 40x80 frame the right step for you?
A 40x80 frame makes sense when you race often, when you use or plan a load cell brake, or when your wheelbase delivers more than the 16 Nm of the Hobby tier and up to 26 Nm. It is also a smart pick if you know your hardware is going to grow. You buy the frame once, then upgrade the parts around it.
If you only race now and then on a belt or gear driven wheel, a 40x40 frame is often enough. Compare the full range of aluminium sim racing cockpits in the Club range with the other tiers before you decide. Prefer a more general overview first? Browse every aluminium sim rig SIMGASM builds.
Questions about 40x80 aluminium profiles
Is 40x80 the same as 80x40?
Yes. Both names describe the same profile. The profile is at its stiffest when the 80 mm side faces the direction of the load.
Does a 40x80 cockpit flex with a direct drive wheel?
Within its rating of up to and including 26 Nm, the Club is designed to stay stable. Flex usually comes from loose bolts or a wrong mount, so check your bolts after the first week of use.
Is a 40x80 rig much heavier than a 40x40 rig?
The base rail uses more aluminium, so it weighs more. The footprint only grows slightly: 500 × 1350 × 620 mm for the Club versus 500 × 1270 × 580 mm for the Hobby.
Who designs SIMGASM cockpits?
Johan Akkerman, founder, CEO and product designer, designs the complete range. SIMGASM is based in Wijk bij Duurstede in the Netherlands.
Want to learn more? The SIMGASM experts are happy to help.
