You do not always need a lumbar cushion in an Atlas seat. The shell and the included memory foam cushions already support most drivers well. A lumbar cushion makes sense when you feel a gap between your lower back and the shell, when you race long stints or when you sit in a reclined Formula position. In those cases, the SIMGASM Lumbar Support Cushion fills that gap and keeps your posture steady.
Below you learn how to test your own fit, what the cushion does and how to combine it with the right seat position. So you only add it when it really helps.
What does lumbar support do in a sim racing seat?
First it helps to know what "lumbar" means and why it matters in a rig.
The lower back in plain words
Your lumbar spine is the lower part of your back, just above your hips. It has a natural inward curve. When a seat leaves that curve without support, your back slowly rounds. After a while your shoulders drop forward and your arms work harder on the wheel.
A lumbar cushion fills the space between that curve and the seat shell. It keeps your spine in a neutral shape. As a result your hips stay planted, your hands stay relaxed and your braking foot finds the same spot lap after lap.
SIMGASM | Lumbar Support Cushion for Atlas Sim Racing Seat
Why a rigid shell changes the picture
The Atlas sim racing seats use a fixed back shell. That shell does not flex, which is great for feedback from a direct drive wheelbase and load cell pedals. But a rigid shell also means the padding decides how well your back is supported. That is why SIMGASM designed a dedicated lumbar cushion that follows the shape of both the Atlas GT and the Atlas Formula shell.
How do you know if you need one?
A simple test in your own rig tells you more than any size chart.
The flat hand test
Sit in your normal driving position with your hands on the wheel. Now slide one flat hand between your lower back and the cushion. If your hand slides in easily, there is a gap. If your back presses firmly on your hand, the standard cushion already supports you. Repeat the test after twenty minutes of driving, because your posture changes when you get tired.
Signs during a race
Watch for small signals. You shift your hips during long straights. You lean forward to reach the wheel. Your lower back feels stiff when you get out of the seat. Any of these points to a support gap. Our guide on avoiding back pain in a sim racing seat covers more causes, such as pedal distance and wheel height. If pain stays, talk to a health professional.
SIMGASM | Seat Cushion Set for Atlas GT
GT or Formula: where does lumbar support matter most?
The seat position you choose changes how much your lower back needs help.
In the Atlas GT position
The Atlas GT keeps you more upright. Your weight rests mostly on your hips, so many drivers feel fine with the standard GT cushion set. Lumbar support becomes useful when you are tall, when you sit a bit further from the wheel or when you drive endurance events.
In the Atlas Formula position
The Atlas Formula places you lower and more reclined. Your legs sit higher, so your pelvis tilts back. That makes the gap at the lower back larger for many drivers. Here the lumbar cushion often makes the biggest difference. Planning to change positions? Read how you switch an Atlas seat from GT to Formula first.
How do you set up the lumbar cushion?
Getting the most from the cushion takes a few minutes of fine tuning.
Placement and seat angle
Place the cushion in the lower back zone of the shell, where your back curves inward. It sits on top of the standard cushion set, so you keep the normal padding in place. Then check your seat angle and height again. Even a small change in recline moves the contact point. Our article on how high a sim racing seat should sit helps you find a solid baseline.
Give your body time
The cushion uses premium memory foam that adapts to your shape over time. So the first session might feel firm. Drive a few races before you decide. Firm support usually feels better after an hour than soft support, which lets you sink and slouch.
SIMGASM | Atlas Sim Racing Seat Gran Turismo - White
Why SIMGASM pays attention to comfort
Comfort sounds soft, but in racing it is a performance topic.
SIMGASM founder Johan Akkerman raced at world level in esports and won the 2019 Project CARS 2 world team championship with VP Gaming. Long practice sessions taught him how quickly a poor seat costs focus. Before sim racing became his full time work, he was a technical specialist and workshop manager for car brands such as Mercedes and Jaguar. That mix of driver feedback and technical background shows in the Atlas cushion system: washable, replaceable and made to keep you in one position.
Questions about lumbar support in the Atlas
These quick answers cover the most common doubts.
Does the lumbar cushion fit both Atlas GT and Atlas Formula?
Yes. It is designed for the shell shape of both the Atlas GT and the Atlas Formula.
Do I remove the standard cushions?
No. The lumbar cushion adds targeted support while the standard cushion set stays in place.
Is a rolled towel a good alternative?
A towel works as a quick test to see if you need support. A shaped cushion stays in place better and keeps the same support every session.
Who can help me choose?
Mail hello@simgasm.com with your height and driving position. The team usually responds within one business day.
Want to learn more? The SIMGASM experts are happy to help.
