Sabelt S99 GT Cockpit Review: Perfect for Cup Car 2.0?
Childhood Dreams Revisited
For many veteran sim racers, the journey begins with basic gear, then matures into a quest for realism. The transition from childhood dreams, like a Mad Catz wheel with Gran Turismo, to a professional Sabelt rig marks the culmination of years developing skill, courage, and passion. Jay highlights that the Cup Car 2.0 build has always been a dream of his, and it finally became reality with the Sabelt S99 GT Cockpit as its foundation.
Third Wheel Exclusive, proud affiliate of Apex Sim Racing, recently filmed his review on the Sabelt S99 sim racing cockpit. In the video, he breaks down the build process, highlights key features, and shares his thoughts on how it compares to other setups. He also walks through his Cup Car 2.0 build, showing how the S99 provides a superior foundation that elevates his entire sim racing experience. This blog post serves to highlight the most valuable insights from his review.
What Makes This Cockpit so Special?
Jay notes that the S99 boasts a "true motorsports design." Unlike typical sim racing brands, Sabelt is a direct result of the real racing world, designing solutions for actual race vehicles. The expertise results in a cockpit brimming with authentic visual cues, race-inspired badges, and angular profiles that echo the dynamic aesthetics of real race cars.
The cockpit's premium construction and adjustability are also noteworthy. The 120x40 mm vertical uprights provide excellent side-to-side stability, making it ideal for managing the torque of direct drive wheelbases without flex. Precision-machined 10 mm mounting plates also create a solid connection for the wheel, pedals, and seat, eliminating unwanted movement and enhancing the driving feel. Every mount is fully adjustable, so drivers can fine-tune their driving positions to the millimeter.
Sabelt GT-Pad Seat
No immersive sim rig is complete without a proper racing seat, and the Sabelt GT-Pad Seat delivers exactly this. In fact, it’s the very same model found in real GT race cars, designed to lock the driver into position with the same secure fit. Once mounted, the seat transforms the cockpit into a full-blown race environment, where every session feels like qualifying day.
Jay also highlights that the modular pad system allows for easy customization for color and wear, ensuring longevity and the ability to update aesthetics without the expense of a new seat.
The Perfect Cockpit for Cup Car 2.0
I caught up with Jay over Discord for a quick Q&A session. He described the Cup Car 2.0 as "the ultimate expression of my passion for immersive sim racing, engineering, and pushing boundaries. This build is about more than just hardware, it’s a community-driven journey to create a sim rig that feels truly alive. For me, it’s proof that if you obsess over every detail and bring in the right partners, you can turn a personal dream into something that inspires the whole sim racing world."
Overall, he is confident that the Sabelt S99 GT Cockpit is the perfect platform for his Cup Car 2.0 build because it combines quality, adjustability, and long-term value. Made in Italy with high-grade aluminum profiles and 10 mm mounting plates, it offers superior rigidity and strength. It is fully compatible with pro-level gear and built with motion platform integration in mind. Additionally, it has amazing adjustability potential. The seat, pedal, and wheel mounts can all be fine-tuned for a driver's ideal driving position. The GT-Pad Seat is a great addition, as it resembles the same model used in real GT cars, which gives it an au authentic feel.
How to Choose the Perfect Cockpit For Your Rig
In his video, Jay shares a few key tips for choosing the right sim racing cockpit. He emphasizes starting with a rig built on real motorsport pedigree, as it delivers a level of immersion that generic setups cannot match.
A fully adjustable and modular cockpit like the Sabelt S99 GT provides long-term flexibility, allowing your setup to grow and adapt over time. Jay also highlights the value of using authentic accessories such as a real GT seat and racing gloves to enhance the realism of the experience. He encourages staying involved with the sim racing community and relying on trusted brands for inspiration and support as your build evolves.
Conclusion
In the pursuit of the ultimate home racing experience, the Sabelt S99 GT Sim Racing Cockpit emerges as the optimal choice for Cup Car 2.0. Its real-life motorsport accuracy, premium construction, adjustability, and customization potential make it an exemplary platform for sim racers seeking the most realistic experience. Coupled with a real Sabelt GT padded seat, it provides a foundation that brings the dream of true racing immersion within reach.
Check out Jay's Youtube review here and subscribe to his channel for more informative sim racing content!
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