ALL YOU REALLY NEED? - Next Level Racing GT Lite Pro Review

Next Level Racing GT Lite Pro Review

Overview and price

The Next Level Racing GT Lite Pro is a portable, foldable sim-racing cockpit for people moving up from a desk or couch setup. It is especially suited to console racers who need to store their rig between sessions.

The manufacturer rates it for wheelbases up to 13 Nm peak torque. The reviewer tested it with Fanatec CSL DD hardware and Moza R5, R9, and R12 wheelbases, including the R12 at 12 Nm.

Prices quoted in the video were A$499 / US$299 / £279 / €329. The GT Lite Pro costs more than the older GT Lite.

Features and setup

The cockpit arrives partially assembled. Assembly took the reviewer about 20 minutes, or roughly an hour to get the whole setup running. The instructions were clear, and assembly was mostly trouble-free. The 19 kg box is manageable for one person.

Adjustable frame sections let users change the seat, wheel-deck, and pedal positions. The adjustments are made in steps rather than finely graded increments, but the reviewer found enough range for people from their early teens to about 6 ft (183 cm).

The seat has three recline positions and an adjustable front tilt. Its shaped, padded, ventilated design is a notable improvement over the original GT Lite’s more camping-chair-like seat.

The pedal deck slides forward and back, has broad mounting slots, and can be set flat or tilted up to 15 degrees. A supplied shifter and handbrake bracket supports common Fanatec and Thrustmaster mounting arrangements; users should check the manufacturer’s compatibility list for other brands.

Other features include straps to brace the frame and wheel deck, caster wheels to make the folded cockpit easier to move, and cable-management straps.

Driving experience

Strengths

• The cockpit is easy to fold and put away, and straightforward to climb in and out of.
• The seat is comfortable and provides good back support. The reviewer reported no comfort or ventilation issues during a stint of up to about 90 minutes.
• Pedal support was considered adequate, even with stiff Fanatec CSL Elite V2 pedals. The reviewer found no concerning pedal flex and expected typical Logitech, Thrustmaster, and Moza pedals to work well too.
• The shifter moves somewhat, but the reviewer considered this acceptable for casual use.
• The cockpit held up structurally during testing, including at high wheel torque. It did not come apart or loosen.

Weaknesses and compromises

The wheel deck is the main weakness. It flexes noticeably, much of the movement coming from the plastic connection between the wheel plate and frame. The straps help but do not eliminate the movement.

The reviewer found that wheel-deck flex dampens force feedback, reducing some of the fine detail that makes direct-drive wheels appealing. Direct-drive wheelbases on this cockpit felt more like belt-driven units: smoother, but less granular. Although the movement looked especially pronounced on camera, the reviewer said it was less distracting while concentrating on driving; the loss of force-feedback detail was still noticeable.

With Fanatec and Moza wheelbases, the mounting-plate holes are difficult to access in the intended configuration. The best solution found was to use two front mounting points for the Moza bases and three front points for the CSL DD. This worked without problems during testing, but highlights a design limitation.

The reviewer’s sample also had a defect that limited the wheel deck’s upright adjustment. This was described as a possible quality-control issue, not necessarily a general problem.

In the reviewer’s view, the added straps did not improve rigidity enough by themselves to justify the price increase over the original GT Lite. The improved seat was a more meaningful upgrade.

Comparisons and recommendation

Compared with the original GT Lite, the Pro has a more supportive, bucket-like seat, bracing straps, and caster wheels. The reviewer particularly valued the seat improvement but felt the straps alone did not justify the extra cost.

Compared with a solid desk setup, the GT Lite Pro may provide a worse force-feedback experience if a direct-drive wheelbase is already mounted securely and the pedals are stable, because the cockpit’s wheel deck flexes.

Similarly priced rigid, non-folding cockpits may offer substantially more rigidity and a better driving feel, but they cannot be folded away as conveniently.

The GT Lite Pro is best suited to space-constrained or console users who need a cockpit they can quickly fold and store, and who value convenience over maximum rigidity.

Overall verdict: The GT Lite Pro is a reasonably comfortable and practical portable cockpit, but it is not a universal upgrade. Its seat and pedal support perform well, while the flexing wheel deck undermines direct-drive detail. Consider it if foldability is essential; if force-feedback fidelity matters more, compare it with a rigid cockpit or keep a solid desk setup.

Scores and speaker perspectives

• No formal numerical rating or score was given.
• The review’s assessments all come from the presenter, Will; no other speakers provide separate product opinions.