I’m back in my driving seat again, but this time it’s not portable, this one is as you can see is much bigger and sturdier, and definitely not foldable. This the GT Omega’s brand new and their first-ever sim racing rig-based and built using extruded aluminum profiles, and this is actually the first time that I’m trying such a rig, usually, they were all-tube or rectangular steel profile-based. That’s a lot of first ones, oh well, gotta start somewhere.
The retail version of the Prime sim racing rig will be covered and anodized in black color, although I would not mind if they would also have a regular silver just aluminum version, as it’s easier to maintain, the dust is not that easily picked up by the eye, and if you scuff it or something like that, it doesn’t show. I had it for a while now actually, I was waiting for a monitor stand and the monitor itself, be sure to subscribe, because both of them will have a separate video, one which will be another aluminum rig for another brand, and I have a lot more incoming. Anyhow, with all of that finally here and everything in place, I had something to feed this beast with so I can try it out for few weeks and deliver you this video.
If you dedicated to getting one of these, be sure to be in shape because it’s really heavy. And it has to be as its construction is based on extruded aluminum profiles, and as I mentioned, it’s actually GT Omega’s first rig that’s made this way, so I’m really eager to check it out and for it to be my first experience of such rig, so I can have some future references.
GT Omega goes extruded aluminum profiles with Prime
The installation was not that time-consuming, especially if you prepare the content from the boxes beforehand, of which there are two. There are two main long rails and two cross-sections that make a footprint of the rig with a bit below 140 cm of length and 60 cm of width. The seat came in a separate box, and as of now you can get the rig pre-configured with the RS6 or the RS9 racing seat GT Omega model, while you can choose to put your own, just mind the dimensions, although everything is pretty much standard here. Getting back to the installation part, basically, everything is connected with these right-angled brackets, bolts, and t-nut plates, which then slide into the rails and get clamp tight from within using a bolt. Everything else gets connected this way, with or without the addition of those right-angled brackets, for example, the seat.
The main outer framing has a height of basically four full rail profiles, 160 x 40 mm to be precise, so the whole rig is placed tall, to begin with, but it also brings a high level of stiffness. They carry a total of four guided rails in them so there’s a lot of adjustments in relation to the pedal tray, you can fine-tune its position, as well as adjust or attach other things. The same goes for the wheelbase mounting plate, which also uses the guided rails from the upright profiles, and hooks with bolts onto each side. The carrying plate itself is also aluminum and 10 mm thiCKKKKKKKKKKK, so it can easily take anything you throw at it, before all because it has a lot of different configuration of predrilled holes, my Fanatec CSL Elite fit onto it like a glove.
You can move these upright profiles back and forward, thanks to the side plates which latch onto the side rails, just have in mind that it’s not so easy to align everything, it does need a lot of force to be moved around, plus be sure to loosen the bolts enough so you don’t end up scratching the frame when something else is pressed against it and you start dragging it in a different direction. Be extra mindful when assembling the rig that everything is where you want to be, double-check the measures, see if the leveling is good because it can turn into a hassle if you need to correct something later on.
GT Omega Prime is completely modular
And basically, everything can be moved like that, even the mounting rails for the seat, while the seat can of course be moved back and forward as per usual as it sits on its own rails. Back here you can notice that there’s a cross-section that connects one side to another, making the whole rig even credit and enabling you to put those cross rails for the seat. What also makes it a tad sturdier is this side L bracket which has a role of mounting accessories more versatile. Things like, you have guessed it, shifters, handbrakes before all, for which you will again get this nice thick metal plate with different predrilled whole and patterns, and of course the rest of it, like a keyboard or cup holder and so on, your DIY skills are the only limit here as there’s an easy option of mounting things onto it.
Lastly, the front is tied together with a big plate onto which you’ll install the pedals. It has two mounting sides so to speak, on the front and on the back, and with it, you can regulate the angle of the whole board, so it suits your pedal and driving style. Here they’ll provide two additional brackets so you can really get up high and achieve extreme angles, so ample amount of ways to configure everything. I’ve decided to go with a flatter setup and weight somewhere in the middle with the height, and put my Fanatec CSL Elite LC pedals onto it.
So, with everything set and ready to go, how was it actually using it? After running NextLevelRacing F-GT for a little while, it being a foldable sim racing rig, feel free to check that review later on, and hopping into this, It was obvious that my experience with GT Omega Prime will be overwhelming, and it was. Truth to be told, there is actually not that much to talk about as it’s a straightforward product, to begin with, but I can say that this is everything that I expected it to be, solid, handles any forces and feedback coming from the wheel, your moving body, without breaking a sweat and with basically zero flex.
Prime as a budget option
The same goes for the side mount on which I had Fanatces ClubSport shifter, you could probably shift it with two hands while having a bag of rock in one of them, and it would budge. As for the seat, since it is a leatherette-like fabric, it can get a bit warm in the long run, but other than that it’s really comfortable, didn’t have any issues in that regard, plus it looks and feels proper build quality-wise. Of course, if you have something else intended for your seat, something you firsthand knowledge that you already like, you can get just the rig.
The only complaint I have, and that being a minor one, is that that they use really small plastic feet to prop the whole rig, which provides minimal grip. It’s possible that they’ve changed this in the final revision, but in this case, the rig really moves around easily on a floor that is the as solid and same texture as those plastic feet, having almost no friction.
All in all, I’m super pleased with this being my first-time proper sim racing rig experience. With the release of the GT Omega Prime model, this type of rig made out of extruded aluminum profiles became just a tad more affordable, as it comes in cheaper than what others have to offer in the same segment. Can’t wait to put it head-to-head to some comparison, Sim-Lab’s P1X being among first the ones, so be sure to subscribe.
That’s it for this time, thanks for checking out this GT Omega Prime Review, if you have any questions feel free to hit me in the comments section of my YouTube video listed above, you can contact me via my social media channels!
