Sim-racing isn’t the same as it used to be, where all you had to do was connect peripherals to your platform (PC or console) and then go about your sessions in peace. Back then, it was certainly simple, but our setups lacked elements that could enhance immersion and realism. For example, no one had a curved screen at the time, or a VR headset to really feel like you were in the cockpit of an F1 car.

It’s possible to have a complete setup with products available to the general public. If you now decide to make a sim-racing setup for yourself, all you need is a few hours to order the products from the comfort of your sofa.

These days, sim-racing manufacturers are aiming to push realism to the limit with technological innovations and peripherals that are heavily inspired by motorsports. For example, you can visit the Sim-Lab and order a cockpit for your setup. Already, doing this will greatly increase the immersion of your racing sessions, especially if you have a good-sized curved screen. But what if I told you that it was possible to push the realism even further with dynamic racing simulators, commonly known as jack-up cockpits? Well, that’s what we’re going to see. I’ll introduce them, tell you what they should have and which are the best.

The best dynamic racing simulators

As you’d expect, there are several players in this segment, with several models to choose from. I’ve put together a list of 5 dynamic racing simulators that I consider to be the best on the market today.

Next Level Racing Motion Platform V3 (motorized platform)

Advantages :

• Compatible with Next Level Racing cockpits and those of other brands
• Compatible with virtual reality platforms
• Fast, fluid, realistic movements
• High-performance in-house software
• Attractive price compared with the competition

Disadvantages :

• Limited maximum supported weight (130 kg)

Let’s start with a brand I like in the cockpit world, Next Level Racing. The motorized Motion Platform V3 is a product I’ve really enjoyed using, thanks to its compatibility with many of the brand’s cockpits (NLR), as well as chassis from other competitors.

The platform is rather compact (45.72 x 50.8 x 22.86 cm), weighing in at just under 25 kg. The Motion Platform V3 supports a maximum pitch and roll angle of +/- 10°, with maximum acceleration of 360°. Frankly, that’s not bad at all for such a small platform. Movements are fast, fluid and, above all, very realistic, even if you’re playing a fast sim like Dirt, where you’re going to be doing one curve after another at full throttle.

Motion Platform V3 is compatible with many of the brand’s cockpits, including the highly acclaimed GT Ultimate Cockpit. Next Level Racing has developed software just for this platform, so that it can be easily integrated with all sim-racing titles available on the market, such as Asseto Corsa, F1, Project Cars, but also flight simulations like Flight Simulator. In my opinion, Motion Platform V3 is a complete platform that’s rather affordable (less than €3,400), but still has its little shortcomings, the most notable of which is the maximum weight support of just 130 kg. This means you’ll have to choose your cockpit and sim-racing peripherals carefully, and above all get back into the swing of things if you’re carrying extra kilos, because frankly, 130 kg is quickly reached with an average-sized person and a very simple cockpit.

The RS1 M4A BLACK

Advantages :

• Full cab with racing seat
• All brackets are included in the box, even the gear lever bracket.
• Very good build quality, with outstanding finish
• Solid design

Disadvantages :

• A rather high price
• Quite heavy

Let’s turn now to the dynamic racing simulation cabins. As I said earlier, these are complete, all-in-one products. So, you have the motorized platform, brackets for sim-racing peripherals (base, pedals, etc.) and a racing seat. One of these cabins is the RS1 M4A BLACK which is a good product for the price, even if the latter is rather high.

The chassis of the RS1 M4A BLACK is made entirely of stainless steel, with 4 cylinders handling the cockpit movements, and these are located in the four corners of the cabin. In the box, you have a support for base, pedals, gearshift, tablets and keyboard/mouse. All in all, it’s more than most others offer with their products, and it’s excellent as far as I’m concerned.

Let’s get to the heart of the matter: performance. Simply put, the RS1 M4A BLACK is the best there is. This motorized cockpit is capable of reaching a maximum speed of 100 mm/sec, with a maximum acceleration of 1g. Frankly, that’s excellent for such a product, especially at the price it’s sold for.

As for price, the RS1 M4A BLACK isn’t cheap. You’ll need to spend around €16,800 to acquire this little gem, and it’s only available to order. On the one hand, it’s expensive – well, not too expensive when you compare it to other models – but you do have the option of customizing it with different paints. In any case, if you can afford it, the RS1 M4A BLACK is a motorized chassis that I’d recommend to fans of dynamic simulators.

The RS G1 1500

Advantages :

• Force feedback with FIA-approved haptic system
• Solid chassis with monitor mount
• Multi-adjustable seat
• Affordable chassis compared to others

Disadvantages :

• Quite heavy

The RSEAT brand is a major European player in the motorized simulation platform segment. It has a wealth of experience, and is arguably the best on the market. For this list, I’ve chosen another of the manufacturer’s models, the RS G1 1500, which is part of a rather complete range with a unique and successful design, while being relatively affordable compared to the others.

Let’s start with the chassis. The RS G1 1500 is made entirely of steel, with a support for the base, a support for the pedalboard and a support for the monitor (from 27 to 90 inches). Frankly, it’s great for sim-racers who want to have a screen directly attached to their setup. You can also have a shifter or handbrake mount, but that’s optional. Well, I’m not going to complain too much, but I would have preferred to have it in the box, especially when I see that it’s available for not even €240.

The motorized platform consists of 4 cylinders in the corner of the base, capable of developing a maximum speed of 100 mm/sec, with a maximum acceleration of 1g. It’s like the cabin we saw just before, and in fact the same system is used for both products. The stroke of the cylinders is almost 40 mm, which is not bad at all.

I’ll pass over the peripherals supported by the RS G1 1500. So, you’ve got practically all Direct Drive bases, whatever their power output. Load Cell pedalboards are also compatible with the RS G1 1500. As for brands, everything currently on the market is compatible with this chassis, except for Simucube products, especially chainstays. You’ll have to fork out a small sum (around €70) to buy a support for their base… Frankly, it’s cheap on the manufacturer’s part, especially as this support is really inexpensive.

Speaking of expensive, the RS G1 1500 can be bartered for the princely sum of €12,000. That’s still a premium price, of course, but below that of the RS1 M4A BLACK.

The RS Formula M4A

Advantages :

• Electrically adjustable surfaces and supports
• Incredible simulator sensations
• High-performance motorized platform

Disadvantages :

• High prices

There’s no shortage of dynamic simulators on the market these days, and all to our absolute delight. One of the best on the market is certainly the RS Formula M4Aan F1-specific product.

In my opinion, the design is a success, especially with its black color. The motorized platform is based on the D-BOX, as for the other RSeat models we’ve seen, with 4 cylinders capable of developing a maximum speed of 100 mm/sec, with an acceleration of 1g. I have to say, this is the best there is at the moment, and the difference you’ll find will be in the chassis itself.

Unlike the RS GT 1500, the RS Formula M4A doesn’t include a monitor mount, but makes up for it with motorized bottom bracket and chainstay mounts. Well, it’s a nice option, but not necessary. I’d have liked monitor mounts, for example, but you can’t have everything, can you?

The driving position of the RS Formula M4A is typically F1, with the feet higher than the pelvis. I love cockpits like this, but it should be noted that they are limited to F1 use only.

Let me now turn to the price. Priced at almost €19,200, the RS Formula M4A remains a very expensive product for the average person. Only a few sim-racers can afford it, and that’s just the way it is.

The RSEAT HF-L4 D-BOX GEN 5 HAPTIC SYSTEM (motorized platform)

Advantages :

• Good build quality
• Tubular steel structure
• High maximum load

Disadvantages :

• High price compared to competitors

The last entry in this list is the RSEAT HF-L4a motorized platform. This simulator incorporates the technologies that have made the RSeat brand famous, such as D-BOX, 4 cylinders, acceleration and more.

The RSEAT HF-L4 is a platform that fits under a compatible cockpit to bring dynamism and feel. With maximum acceleration of 1g, I have to say it’s realistic, especially for fast, intense sim-racing sessions.

As far as weight is concerned, the RSEAT HF-L4 supports a maximum load of 400 kg, which is just enormous compared to direct competition such as the Next Level Racing Motion Platform V3. With it, you’ll have a complete setup, including cockpit, peripherals and even a monitor if you have that option. Just remember that the 400 kg also includes your body weight.

As for the maximum speed of the RSEAT HF-L4, this is 100 mm/sec, which is on a par with all the other products we’ve seen. Even though this platform is small, it’s still one of the best performers on the market, and it shows in the price.

At almost €9500, it’s still an expensive product in my opinion. However, if you add a good, compatible cockpit, the price of your setup won’t be so high.

What is a dynamic racing simulator (jack cockpit)?

A dynamic racing simulator is actually a cockpit mounted on a motorized base with jacks that simulates car behavior. When you’re in a vehicle and accelerating, braking or cornering, the car moves. When you take a bend, for example, your body moves to the opposite side. This is perfectly normal, and it’s called physics.

A jack-up cockpit tends to reproduce these sim-racing movements of the car in order to reflect them back to you, who are sitting in the seat of your setup. In order to achieve this, the dynamic racing simulator must include several elements, including a motorized platform (with jacks), motors for vibration, brackets for sim-racing peripherals and so on. The aim here is to create a kind of cabin that lets you feel everything the car you’re driving in sim-racing does, as if you were actually behind the wheel.

What types of dynamic racing simulators are available?

There are currently two types of dynamic racing simulators on the market:

• Motorized platforms. This type of dynamic racing simulator takes the form of a platform that you place on the ground, onto which your cockpit or racing seat bolts. This type is very much in vogue, as these platforms are highly customizable and allow you to build your setup around them, as well as being rather less expensive.
• Motorized cabins. This second type is more geared towards sim-racing professionals, as here you have a complete setup, or as we say “All-in-one”. This type includes the motorized base, brackets for sim-racing peripherals, the racing seat, and even brackets for other products such as monitors, and so on. It’s certainly complete, but you’ll need to adapt your setup to the cabs, and these are rather bulky, which can be problematic for racers with small parts.

Which one to choose?

Choosing a dynamic racing simulator is like choosing virtually any other sim-racing peripheral in a setup: you have to put your needs first and make compromises.

• Budget. The first thing to determine when choosing a dynamic simulator is to set a budget you don’t want to exceed. There are many dynamic racing simulators to choose from, with a wide variety of configurations, especially when you have single-platform and full-cab options.
• Support for accessories. As with any sim-racing setup, you need to have room for a base and pedalboard in your dynamic simulator. Complete cabs include brackets for available peripherals, at least those sold to the general public. But it’s a good idea to do your research first.
• Speed and acceleration. Dynamic simulators are not all the same, and some models are less powerful than others. If you opt for a “slow” product, you’ll experience a delay between what the car is doing and your simulator, and this kind of product should be avoided.
• Maximum supported weight. Every cockpit, like every seat, has a maximum weight. You need to pay close attention to this, especially for motorized platforms, as you’ll need to install them under your cockpit, and the maximum weight can easily be reached and even exceeded in some cases.
• Read user reviews. Sometimes there’s no better way than to read reviews left by other runners to get information you won’t find anywhere else.