Sim-Lab P1X Pro Racing Cockpit
Sim-Lab is renowned as a leading manufacturer of high-quality cockpits for simracing. With their range of aluminum cockpits, seats, and various accessories, Sim-Lab offers an extensive selection of products for the simracing community. However, over the past year, it has become evident that Sim-Lab is more than just a cockpit manufacturer. Under the Sim-Lab or GRID by Sim-Lab label, an increasing number of high-quality simracing-related products are hitting the market.
In February last year, we had the pleasure of getting a behind-the-scenes look at Sim-Lab. During our visit, we were able to admire various upcoming innovations, including the Sim-Lab Pedal Set XP1 Loadcell, which we recently reviewed. We also got to see various renders of the new cockpits that would be released later in 2023, including the P1X Pro Simracing Cockpit. Richard, the owner of Sim-Lab, asked us if we were interested in reviewing this simrig, which we naturally didn’t hesitate to accept!
The Sim-Lab P1X Pro Racing Cockpit is available through the Sim-Lab webshop and has a starting price of €799.00. We received the P1X Pro cockpit with a mouse tray, speaker mounting brackets, heel rest, and keyboard tray, which will cost you around €950.00. The mentioned prices include Dutch VAT and exclude shipping costs. We also have a discount code available that will give you an additional 5% off in the Sim-Lab webshop.
Packaging & Contents
Two business days after Sim-Lab shipped our order, we received three white boxes from UPS with Sim-Lab branding. Two of these boxes have a standard shape, while the third one is elongated. In one of the regular boxes, we find the mouse tray, speaker mounting brackets, heel rest, and keyboard tray. The other regular box contains all the necessary components for assembling the cockpit. In the elongated box, we find the profiles for the structure. All parts are carefully packed in bubble wrap and filled with paper where needed to ensure they remain secure during transportation. While the packaging isn’t particularly exciting, we don’t find it necessary for a cockpit. After bringing all the boxes to our sim room, unpacking and sorting the contents, we are ready to start our building project.
Engineering & Quality
The Sim-Lab P1X Pro is an evolution of the P1X simrig and, like its predecessor, is crafted from aluminum extrusion profiles. These profiles consist of aluminum beams with slots where t-slot nuts can be slid in, allowing them to be easily connected with brackets. Sim-Lab has designed its own new variant, which is thicker and stronger than other available variants. As a result, the foundation of the structure largely consists of hollow profiles with unnecessary slots omitted, giving them a cleaner look and making them much stronger. This makes this simrig slightly different from other available aluminum simrigs.
For many simracers, the use of aluminum extrusion profiles is a familiar concept because it offers unparalleled possibilities to adjust your simrig perfectly to your preferences. By default, the profiles are aluminum-colored, but Sim-Lab anodizes them in black for a sleek appearance. Although the profiles are fairly scratch-resistant, it’s still advisable to be cautious when moving sharper components to prevent damage. The parts of the pedal deck and DD-mount are made of sturdy cast metal to provide extra stability.
Assembly & Use
As mentioned earlier, the P1X Pro cockpit is comprised of aluminum extrusion profiles. Building this type of simrig may initially require some puzzle-solving, especially for first-timers. Fortunately, we already have experience building simrigs with aluminum profiles, so assembling this P1X Pro cockpit is manageable for us. We still keep the manual at hand for reassurance, in case we encounter any obstacles. Each step is clearly illustrated in the manual, along with the necessary assembly materials.
The black aluminum profiles are indeed somewhat prone to scratches, but by handling them with care, we can practically assemble the simrig scratch-free. Thanks to the online manual(s) and a bit of insight, building a simrig with aluminum extrusion profiles is surprisingly straightforward. We spent about three hours assembling the frame, and we expect that beginners might take an extra hour. It’s worth mentioning that we are quite perfectionistic and like to take our time for assembly, adjustment, and cable management.
Base
The foundation of this simrig consists of four profiles: two longer ones on the sides and two shorter ones in between, where the seat profiles are eventually mounted. The leveling feet are included as standard. These are quite robust and allow the entire rig to be raised a few centimeters, which enhances accessibility. Moreover, this enables the simrig to be perfectly leveled, which we consider essential. A level base is crucial and will only bring benefits later in the construction process. To protect the floor, we placed a suitable rug from Speedy Rugs under the P1X Pro.
Pedal deck
The pedal deck consists of two cast metal side brackets, with two aluminum profiles in between. This setup makes it easy to mount almost any pedal set. The side plates feature slots, facilitating effortless mounting and allowing the pedal deck to slide forward or backward with ease. Adjusting the height is slightly more challenging due to this construction, as you need to keep the assembly at the desired height while tightening the bolts. Once everything is assembled, we can easily attach our P1Sim Mistral pedal set on top of the pedal deck using four M8 bolts.
Seat
We start by mounting our LCD Pro Drift seat on two aluminum profiles, which are then mounted on top of the base we just built. The seat brackets, optionally with a slider, can be mounted on these profiles. Since we’re not using a slider, we directly mount the seat brackets onto these profiles. In our opinion, it’s practical to first mount the seat between the seat brackets so that we can position the seat properly before securing everything permanently.
Steering column
The steering column consists of two upright profiles cut and mounted at an angle. Because these are mounted at an angle, they are further away from us, which improves accessibility. Therefore, we first mount these upright profiles on the side of the base frame. Once these profiles are mounted, it’s advisable to place a level on top to ensure both profiles are at the same height. The wheel deck consists of four cast metal side brackets with two flat aluminum profiles in between. We mount the profiles on the outside between the upright profiles, and the profiles on the inside form the part where we mount our Fanatec DD2. The advantage of the flat profiles is that we can easily mount accessories on them, as we have done with the GRID Brows, GRID PIB, and Fanatec Killswitch.
Fine-tune
Now that the construction is complete, we can start adjusting our simrig. The Sim-Lab P1X Pro is exceptionally versatile, making it suitable for users of any type and height. Adjusting the P1X Pro requires some attention, but it’s not an overly difficult task. However, it’s important to pay attention to this process, as a well-adjusted simrig can prevent many physical discomforts. We prefer to first adjust the seating position in relation to the pedals. Since the seat is in a fixed position, we only need to adjust the pedal deck to the correct height and distance. Then, it’s a matter of adjusting the steering column to the right distance, and our P1X Pro is ready for use. We’ll postpone neatly organizing the cables for a later moment so that we can fine-tune the adjustments without having to dismantle everything again.
The Use
Our initial impression is that there’s a very sturdy and robust structure in place that will serve us well throughout our simracing journey. Upon entry, we immediately notice a comfortable and more spacious entrance due to the upright profiles being mounted at an angle, providing more room to step in. During the adjustment process, we found it to be very straightforward. The pedal deck adjusts easily in height and depth, and the steering column slides smoothly back and forth. However, caution is needed during adjustment, as damage can occur easily.
Once we start racing, we notice that the P1X Pro shows no flex whatsoever. Even after prolonged intensive use, this remains the same, and no bolts come loose. However, a drawback is that due to the angled upright profiles, accessories are more challenging to mount and may not be suitable yet. This is because most accessories are designed for fully upright profiles. We’ve discussed this with Sim-Lab, and they’ve assured us that all accessories will soon be made compatible with the Pro-line simrigs. One significant advantage we find is the steering column, particularly the wheel deck. Thanks to the flat aluminum profiles, we can easily mount accessories and perform cable management. Our GRID Brows, GRID Power Box, and Fanatec Killswitch are beautifully mounted on these profiles.
Conclusion
Sim-Lab, as the designers of the P1X Pro cockpit, have created a solid foundation for simracers of various levels, composed of aluminum extrusion profiles. The construction process is facilitated by the clear manual and our experience with similar simrigs. By carefully following these instructions, we assemble a scratch-free and sturdy unit.
The flexibility during assembly and adjustment, and the robustness of the P1X Pro, stand out during use. This sturdy construction shows no signs of flex or instability even under intensive use. The angled vertical profiles offer a more spacious entry but may complicate the mounting of accessories, although Sim-Lab has promised improvements for compatibility. Nevertheless, the wheel deck with its flat-lying profiles provides excellent opportunities for accessory mounting and cable management, contributing to an organized and functional cockpit.
If you’re looking for a reliable cockpit, the P1X Pro is definitely recommended. Not only does it look very appealing, but it also meets all our expectations. In our opinion, the Sim-Lab P1X Pro is a cockpit that can accompany you throughout your entire simracing journey!
After reading our review, are you excited about purchasing a Sim-Lab P1X Pro for yourself? It’s available through the Sim-Lab webshop, starting at €799.00. On our discount page, we also have a discount code available that will give you an additional 5% off at Sim-Lab.
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