iRacing is one of the most accurate simulators on the market. The physics are demanding on consistency and you race against real people who will punish every inconsistency in your driving. Having the right simracing cockpit can make or break your experience in iRacing.
This guide breaks down what actually matters when choosing a rig for iRacing and which SIMGASM platform fits each level of seriousness.
Why rig choice matters more in iRacing than in most sims
To get a better laptime in iRacing, you generally want to turn up the force feedback as high as your wheelbase, you and your simrig can cope with. Improving your laptime in iRacing is all about getting the perfect amount of rear rotation. The best way to feel this rear rotation is to turn up the force feedback to increase the feeling of self-aligning torque from the front wheels. (Which indicates rear rotation of the car)
iRacing's force feedback also tends to be heavier than other simulators. Even at small steering angles, you get a high amount of resistance against turning the steering wheel. The force feedback is very detailed when it comes to the rear of the car. The feeling on the front wheels is limited on most cars in iRacing.
A rig that flexes under higher wheel torque absorbs that signal before it reaches your hands. You end up driving on incomplete information, and in a sim where knowing exactly how much the rear is rotating is crucial for laptime, this will cost you great race results.
The things to prioritise, in order: A direct drive wheel base with high torque, a simrig that can handle all of this torque, pedals that have enough resistance to enable consistent trailbraking and seat that puts your body in the right position to handle all of these forces.
Simrig Rigidity
A flex in the frame transfers energy away from force feedback and pedal feel. A wheel mount that moves even a few millimetres under high speed cornering gives you false feedback. You think you are on the limit of the front or rear tyres, even when there's more grip left in the tyres.
This becomes critical the moment you step up to a direct drive wheelbase. In iRacing, a higher torque direct drive wheelbase can create better consistency in iRacing. These wheelbases need a genuinely solid cockpit. A wobbly setup negates the benefit of the extra torque because the flex absorbs the forces before they reach your hands. The same logic applies to load cell pedals: if the pedal tray is not rigid, your braking force readings will be inconsistent lap after lap, meaning you won't be able to trailbrake properly, leading to a different amount of rotation in the car every corner, every lap.
Aluminium profile construction is the standard for exactly this reason. It does not flex the way folding or tube-frame entry rigs might, and it gives you a fixed reference point that does not change as you add a stronger wheel, a load cell pedal, or a button box.
Ergonomics: GT or Formula?
iRacing covers everything from GT3 cars to IndyCar ovals to Formula cars, and the seating position that suits one does not suit all of them. If you race a single discipline, a fixed position rig is fine. If you move between GT, prototype, and open-wheel contentyou might want to consider a rig that is easily adjustable.
A more upright seating position suits GT and touring car content. A reclined, feet-up position suits Formula and prototype cars, and it changes how your lower back interacts with the seat. This becomes especially important for endurance content like the Daytona or Spa 24h events.
The SIMGASM lineup for iRacing
SIMGASM Hobby — the entry point. A 40×40 aluminium profile rig that gives you genuine rigidity at a price that does not assume you are already a serious iRacing competitor. If you are starting out with a belt-driven or lower-torque direct drive wheel and want a stable foundation that will not need replacing the moment you upgrade your wheel, this is where to start. SIMGASM Hobby simulator
SIMGASM Club — the all-rounder. 80×40 profile rigidity that handles the lower and midrange of direct drive wheelbases (8–12Nm) and pedal sets. This is the rig that suits a driver who races multiple disciplines in iRacing — GT3 one week, oval the next — without needing to compromise on stability for either. SIMGASM Club simulator
SIMGASM Sport — built for higher torque and longer sessions. 120×40 profile, a stronger wheel mount for high-torque direct drive bases, and integrated cable pass-throughs that keep a multi-device iRacing setup tidy rather than a mess of clips. The added adjustability also matters here: If you are running endurance events, dialling in a seating position that holds up for hours is worth the upgrade on its own. SIMGASM Sport simulator
SIMGASM Pro — zero flex, for the drivers who race seriously. 160×40 profile, the same aluminium standard that has become the benchmark for professional sim racing builds in 2026. This is the platform for drivers running flagship direct drive wheelbases, 17Nm and above, where even a small amount of frame flex would noticeably absorb force feedback detail. If you are chasing iRating, racing in official endurance events, or simply want every bump and kerb iRacing's physics model produces to reach your hands exactly as intended, this is the rig that gets out of the way and lets the hardware do its job. SIMGASM Pro simulator.
Matching the rig to your wheel and pedals
Rig choice should never be made in isolation from your wheel and pedal plans. A 25Nm flagship direct drive wheelbase on a rig that is not built for that torque will flex exactly where you need it not to. As mentioned before, a higher torque wheelbase can make a considerable difference in iRacing specifically. Consider stiffer simrigs when you have a 12+ Nm of torque direct drive wheelbase.
If you are running or planning a high-torque direct drive base like the MOZA R9, pair it with the Club or Sport at minimum. If you are stepping up to load cell pedals, a rigid pedal tray is what turns that upgrade into a real performance gain rather than a marginal one. The CONSPIT CPP EVO 3 on a flexing pedal tray will still give you inconsistent results; on a SIMGASM Club, Sport, or Pro, the load cell data is reliable lap after lap.
FAQ
Do I need an expensive rig to start iRacing? No. A stable entry rig like the SIMGASM Hobby is enough to learn the sim properly and will not hold you back with a lower-torque wheel. The mistake is buying a flimsy, non-rigid rig that needs replacing the moment you upgrade your wheelbase.
How much torque can a Club rig handle? The Club's 80×40 profile comfortably handles mid-torque direct drive wheels in the 8–12Nm range, which covers the large majority of direct drive bases iRacing drivers run.
Do I need a different rig for formula or GT style cars? Not necessarily a different rig — but a more adjustable one helps. Formula cars reward a slightly different seating position than GT3 road racing. The Sport and Pro's extra adjustability make it easier to dial in both without compromise.
Is rigidity really noticeable, or is it marketing? It is genuinely noticeable, especially the moment you run a direct drive wheel above 10Nm or add a load cell pedal. A flexing rig absorbs force feedback and pedal pressure data before it reaches you — the difference is not subtle once you have felt the alternative.
