Next Level Racing Cockpit Review: GTtrack vs F-GT vs Elite Compared (2026)
Next Level Racing comes up constantly on this site -- our sim racing cockpit guide, F1 sim racing setup guide, and sim racing seat guide all point readers to one Next Level Racing model or another. What none of them spell out is how confusing the lineup's naming actually is once you compare the four current cockpits side by side.
Next Level Racing Cockpits by the Numbers
- 2009: the year Hess Ghah founded Next Level Racing on Australia's Gold Coast; the company is now headquartered nearby in Southport, Queensland.
- $499: the price of the entry steel F-GT -- the cheapest cockpit in the current lineup, yet one of only two models (with the F-GT Elite) that switch between Formula and GT seating.
- 48 kg / 60 kg boxed: the assembled and shipping weight of the GTtrack, per Next Level Racing's own spec sheet and B&H Photo's listing.
- $400: the price gap between the GT Elite ($599) and F-GT Elite ($999) -- both use the same aluminum profile, so that gap buys Formula-position capability, not a frame-material upgrade.
- 5-7 years: the realistic lifespan RacingRigGuide's long-term test recommends planning for a GTtrack, with periodic bolt checks on the seat, slider, and wheel-plate as it ages.
The Full Lineup Compared
| Model | Frame | Price | Weight | Seating Positions | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F-GT | Steel | $499 | 19 kg | Formula + GT (switchable) | Budget dual-position |
| GT Elite | Aluminum profile | $599 | 37-40 kg | GT only | Lighter GT-only upgrade path |
| GTtrack | Steel | $899 | 48 kg (60 kg boxed) | GT only | Bundled seat, harness & Buttkicker mount |
| F-GT Elite | Aluminum profile | $999-$1,299 | 53-60 kg | Formula + GT + Hybrid | Maximum adjustability |
All four cockpits accept direct drive wheels and pro-level pedal sets from Thrustmaster, Logitech, and Fanatec, per Next Level Racing's own compatibility notes. The real split in the range isn't frame material or price -- it's whether the seat mount lets you switch to a reclined, legs-extended Formula position or locks you into a single upright GT position.
The Naming Trap: "Elite" Doesn't Mean What You'd Expect
Next Level Racing's names read like a clean ladder -- GT Elite sits below F-GT Elite, and GTtrack sits somewhere in between on price. In practice, the "Elite" label tells you almost nothing about seating capability on its own. The GT Elite ($599) is GT-position only with minimal pedal adjustment. The F-GT Elite ($999 and up) adds large mounting brackets that let you recline the seat much further for a Formula position, plus a much wider range of pedal adjustment -- a genuine capability jump, not just a bigger frame.
The GTtrack makes the naming trap worse. It costs $300 more than the GT Elite and $400 more than the base F-GT, yet it doesn't add Formula-position support at all -- per Next Level Racing's own GTtrack product page, it's built around a fixed GT seating position with a bundled racing seat, a 4-point harness, a gear shifter and handbrake adaptor, and a Buttkicker Gamer 2 mount for haptic feedback. That's a different value proposition entirely (a more complete out-of-the-box seat rig), not a step up the same ladder as GT Elite and F-GT Elite. The only naming signal that reliably predicts Formula-position support across the whole range is the "F-" prefix: F-GT and F-GT Elite switch positions; GT Elite and GTtrack do not.
From a Gold Coast Garage Brand to a Global Licensee
Next Level Racing was founded in 2009 by Hess Ghah on Australia's Gold Coast, and the company's headquarters today sit nearby in Southport, Queensland. Since then it has grown into what it describes as the world's leading sim-racing furniture brand, with cockpits, seats, wheel stands, and monitor stands sold in more than 50 countries. The company holds official licensee partnerships with PlayStation, iRacing, Ford, and Boeing, and in 2023 it became Motorsport Australia's official esports hardware partner -- a long way from a single frame built to hold a wheel, seat, and pedals.
Which Next Level Racing Cockpit Should You Buy?
If switching between an open-wheel Formula seating position and GT matters more than anything else, skip the GTtrack and look at the F-GT ($499) or F-GT Elite ($999-plus) instead -- they're the only two models built for it. If you only ever race GT or sim-racing titles in an upright position and want the lightest, cheapest frame, the GT Elite is the better buy than the GTtrack at $300 less. The GTtrack still earns its spot as this site's long-standing top pick for a different reason: it's the most complete out-of-the-box package, bundling a racing seat, harness, and Buttkicker mount that the other three models don't include -- just budget for RacingRigGuide's advice to recheck the seat and wheel-plate bolts periodically as the rig ages. Whichever model you land on, make sure your wheelbase's torque rating matches the frame; our direct drive wheel guide breaks down which torque tier fits which budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between the Next Level Racing GT Elite and F-GT Elite?
The GT Elite ($599) supports a GT seating position only, with minimal pedal adjustment. The F-GT Elite ($999 and up) adds Formula and Hybrid seating positions through larger mounting brackets that let you recline the seat much further, plus a wider range of pedal adjustment. The one-letter "F-" prefix is the entire difference in capability, not a minor naming variant.
Does the Next Level Racing GTtrack support a Formula 1 seating position?
No. Despite costing more than the F-GT ($899 vs $499), the GTtrack is a GT-position-only cockpit, per Next Level Racing's own product positioning. It swaps position-switching for a bundled racing seat, 4-point harness, gear shifter and handbrake adaptor, and a Buttkicker Gamer 2 mount. If switching between Formula and GT seating matters to you, the F-GT or F-GT Elite are the models to look at, not the GTtrack.
Which Next Level Racing cockpit is the cheapest?
The steel F-GT is the cheapest model in the current lineup at $499, and it's also one of only two cockpits in the range (alongside the $999-plus F-GT Elite) that switch between Formula and GT seating positions. The GT Elite ($599) and GTtrack ($899) both cost more while offering GT-only seating.
How long does a Next Level Racing GTtrack last?
A long-term review from RacingRigGuide recommends treating the GTtrack as a realistic 5-7 year rig rather than a 10-plus-year investment, and advises rechecking the seat, slider, and wheel-plate bolts more often than the rest of the frame as it ages. The steel frame itself is rigid -- the durability caveat is specifically about bolts loosening over years of use, not the frame flexing.
The Bottom Line
Next Level Racing's four cockpits don't form a simple good-better-best ladder, no matter how the names and prices suggest one. The $499 F-GT quietly out-flexes the $899 GTtrack on seating positions, and "Elite" buys you a lighter aluminum frame, not automatically a Formula-ready one. Decide first whether you need to switch between Formula and GT seating -- that answer, not the price tag, is what actually separates these four cockpits. For the wheel to go on top of whichever frame you pick, our sim racing wheel guide covers the options by budget and torque.