Trak Racer Cockpits Compared: Which Sim Racing Rig Is Right for You?
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Trak Racer makes more cockpit options than almost any other sim racing brand - and choosing between them is genuinely confusing when you're looking at the range for the first time. Aluminium extrusion or tube frame? Entry-level or future-proof? Seat included or build your own? This guide walks through every Trak Racer cockpit GGD stocks, what each one does well, and exactly how to match the right rig to your hardware and where your sim racing is headed.
Quick answer
For a tube frame rig that will handle any direct drive wheelbase and last indefinitely, the TR8 Pro V2 is the one to shortlist. For a capable aluminium extrusion cockpit, the TR80S and TR120S V2 cover the entry to mid-range, while the TR160 V5 handles premium hardware. The TRA Hybrid is the only Trak Racer cockpit that lets you switch to a full F1 seating position without rebuilding - which makes it a category of its own.
Two Build Philosophies: Extrusion vs Tube Frame
Every Trak Racer cockpit belongs to one of two design families, and understanding the difference shapes every other buying decision.
Aluminium extrusion rigs use profiled aluminium sections bolted together with T-nuts and brackets. They're highly configurable, relatively easy to modify, and generally more compact than tube frame builds. Trak Racer's extrusion lineup - the TR40S, TR80S, TR120S V2, TR160 V5, TR200 TANK, and TRA Hybrid - covers everything from a first dedicated cockpit to a professional-grade racing setup.
Tube frame rigs use welded steel tube construction, the same approach you'd find in a real race car chassis. The result is a stiffer, heavier structure that handles the torque from high-end direct drive wheelbases without any chassis flex. Trak Racer's tube frame range - the TR5, TR8 Pro V2, TRX V2, and Alpine TRX V2 - is where serious sim racers end up.
Neither is objectively better. Extrusion suits sim racers who want configurability and room to grow. Tube frame suits drivers who know exactly what they want and are building something they won't outgrow.
Trak Racer Range at a Glance
| Model | Build Type | Seat Included | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| TR40S | Aluminium extrusion | No | First dedicated rig, compact space |
| TR80S | Aluminium extrusion | No | First serious extrusion rig |
| TR120S V2 | Aluminium extrusion | No | Step-up extrusion, stiffer frame |
| TR5 | Tube frame | Yes | First tube rig, all-in-one package |
| TR8 Pro V2 | Tube frame | No | Long-term build platform |
| TR160 V5 | Aluminium extrusion | No | Pro extrusion, premium hardware |
| TR200 TANK | Aluminium extrusion | No | Flagship extrusion build |
| TRX V2 | Tube frame | No | Premium tube frame, top-tier setup |
| Alpine TRX V2 | Tube frame | No | TRX in Alpine F1 Team livery |
| TRA Hybrid | Aluminium extrusion | No | F1 and GT positions, BWT Alpine livery |
The Extrusion Range
TR40S - Entry Point
The TR40S is the most compact cockpit in the Trak Racer lineup and the natural first step up from a wheel stand. It gives you a proper sim racing position - adjustable seating, pedal plate, and wheel mount - in a footprint that works in smaller spaces. It's compatible with most mid-range wheelbases and pedal sets and gets you off the desk or stand without a major outlay.
If you're new to sim racing and want a dedicated rig to start on, the TR40S is where you begin.
TR80S - First Serious Extrusion Rig
The TR80S is a step up in rigidity and mounting options from the TR40S, and it's one of three cockpits on the showroom floor at GGD's Melbourne showroom in Dandenong South. If you're weighing it up against the TR40S, the difference is immediately obvious in person.
"The TR80S is a great entry point into proper sim racing. It's solid, it adjusts well, and it handles most entry to mid-range gear comfortably."
Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Gamer Gear Direct
TR120S V2 - Stiffer Frame, Better for Direct Drive
The TR120S V2 and TR80S sit close together in the extrusion range, but there's a meaningful difference for anyone running heavier hardware. The TR120S V2 features a thicker, more rigid frame profile - and when you're mounting a direct drive wheelbase and a set of load cell pedals, that rigidity makes itself felt through every session.
"Between the TR80S and the TR120S V2, the deciding factor is the frame. The TR120S has a thicker, more rigid profile - if you're running a proper wheelbase, that's the one to go for."
Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Gamer Gear Direct
TR160 V5 - The Pro Extrusion Standard
The TR160 V5 is our most popular extrusion cockpit and one of three rigs on the showroom floor. It's a full-featured aluminium profile cockpit built to handle premium hardware - direct drive wheelbases, load cell pedal sets, and triple monitor configurations - without any of the flex you'd feel in lighter extrusion builds.
Available in black and white, the TR160 V5 is where most serious extrusion builders land. It has the structure to handle high-end hardware now, and the mounting compatibility to keep pace with future upgrades.
TR200 TANK - Flagship Extrusion
The TR200 TANK is Trak Racer's heaviest and most capable extrusion cockpit. Wider, heavier, and more rigidly braced than the TR160, it's built for sim racers running the highest-torque wheelbases on the market who need maximum stability in every session - without making the move to tube frame construction.
TRA Hybrid - Switch to F1 in Seconds
The TRA Hybrid does something no other Trak Racer cockpit can do - it lets you switch from a standard GT seating position to a full F1 seating position in seconds, without disassembling the rig.
"The TRA is the one if you want to switch between GT and F1 seating without tearing the rig apart. The TR160 and TR200 can't do that - that's the key difference."
Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Gamer Gear Direct
The TRA Hybrid comes in BWT Alpine F1 Team livery, the same colour scheme as Trak Racer's official Alpine F1 Team partnership. It's an aluminium extrusion build, so it keeps the configurability of the TR160 and TR200 series - with the added ability to go fully reclined into an F1 position whenever the car calls for it.
The Tube Frame Range
TR5 - Starter Tube Frame With Seat Included
The TR5 is Trak Racer's entry point into tube frame construction, and it comes with a seat included. That makes it a genuinely complete starting point - one purchase covers the cockpit and the seating, without an additional seat purchase on top.
"The TR5 is aimed at the sim racer who wants to get into tube frame without the full outlay of the TR8 Pro V2. It comes with a seat, which helps with the overall cost. If you want a cockpit you'll keep for years, the TR8 Pro V2 is the better long-term call."
Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Gamer Gear Direct
TR8 Pro V2 - Built to Last
The TR8 Pro V2 is the cockpit we most often recommend to serious sim racers - not because it's the most expensive, but because it's the one they won't need to replace. More rigid, more robust, and more adjustable than any extrusion rig in the range, it handles every wheelbase and pedal combination currently on the market without flex under sustained load.
"The TR8 Pro V2 is built to last a lifetime. It doesn't come with a seat, but the rigidity, adjustability, and quality make it the rig we recommend for anyone serious about their setup."
Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Gamer Gear Direct
It doesn't include a seat - you'll need to pair it with a sim racing seat - but that means you can choose exactly the seat that fits your build. The TR8 Pro V2 is on the showroom floor in Dandenong South, so you can see the build quality in person before you buy.
TRX V2 and Alpine TRX V2 - Top of the Tube Frame Range
The TRX V2 sits at the top of Trak Racer's tube frame lineup. It builds on the TR8 Pro V2's foundation with additional structure and wider compatibility across the highest-end accessories and hardware combinations on the market.
The Alpine TRX V2 is the same rig dressed in BWT Alpine F1 Team livery - mechanically identical to the standard TRX V2. The choice between them comes down to aesthetics.
The Most Common Buying Mistake
GGD tip
"We see it regularly - someone buys a cheaper cockpit, then a few months later they've upgraded their wheel and pedals and the cockpit can't keep up. They end up buying again anyway, at more total cost. Think about where your hardware will be in 12 months, and let that drive the cockpit decision." - Blake Sterling, GGD
The cockpit is the foundation everything else bolts to. Going too light on the rig and then outgrowing it is one of the most common - and most avoidable - mistakes in sim racing. If you're already thinking about a direct drive wheelbase or load cell pedals, factor that into the cockpit decision now rather than later.
Which Trak Racer Cockpit Is Right for You?
You're new to sim racing and want a proper first rig
Start with the TR80S for extrusion, or the TR5 for tube frame with a seat included. Both give you a dedicated seating position without overcommitting on your first build.
You're running a direct drive wheelbase or planning to
Step up to the TR120S V2 (extrusion) or TR8 Pro V2 (tube frame). The thicker frame on the TR120S V2 and the welded tube construction of the TR8 Pro V2 both handle high-torque hardware without flex.
You want the best extrusion cockpit available
The TR160 V5 is the natural answer for most builds. The TR200 TANK is the step beyond it for sim racers who want maximum rigidity in extrusion form.
You race F1 cars as well as GT
The TRA Hybrid is the only cockpit in the Trak Racer range that switches between positions in seconds. No other model offers that.
You want a tube frame rig you'll never need to replace
The TR8 Pro V2 for most builds. The TRX V2 or Alpine TRX V2 for top-tier setups that need the maximum the range offers.
Try Them Before You Buy
Three Trak Racer cockpits - the TR80S, TR8 Pro V2, and TR160 V5 - are set up on the showroom floor at GGD's Melbourne showroom in Dandenong South. If you're deciding between rigs, the best thing you can do is sit in them.
Our team can walk you through the full Trak Racer range, help you match the cockpit to your wheelbase and pedals, and point you toward the build that suits where your sim racing is headed - not just where it is now. Book a showroom visit or browse the full cockpit range online.
