The CSL Cockpit Is Fanatec’s Entry-Level Sim Racing Rig

The CSL Cockpit Is Fanatec’s Entry-Level Sim Racing Rig.jpg
First previewed as a work-in-progress prototype in December 2023, the CSL Cockpit releases today, 4th April 2024.

Fanatec has added a second sim racing cockpit to its range, sitting below the venerable RennSport Cockpit V2 rig.

Formally christened the CSL Cockpit, following a prior preview, it is available from today (4th April) for €/$399.95. The CSL moniker denotes ‘entry-level’ within the German company’s nomenclature.

Fanatec CSL Cockpit Sim Racing Rig.jpg


A combination of aluminium tubing and steel brackets, the basic frame is claimed to support wheel bases that output up to 25Nm of torque – in the Fanatec range specifically, that’s every one of its direct drive units. The mounting bracket has three differing height options.

The brake pedal plate is also said to be designed with load cell systems in mind. Other notable features, perhaps, include holly tubing for cable management plus bundled tube caps, and two tyres of foot pads for carpet or hard flooring.

The basic layout is the more upright GT/rally seating position, although inverting the wheel base brackets can turn it into something more like a kart.

Fanatec CSL Cockpit with equipment placed upon it.jpg


In addition to the frame, an optional shifter holder (€/$39.99) and a monitor holder (€/$119.995) are also available. A new seat has also been designed as an accompaniment, with matching yellow stitching and embroidered Fanatec branding, for 99.95.

A keyboard holder, PC or console shelf and free-standing display mount are also in development.

The German peripheral manufacturer is currently undergoing a personnel restructuring, with CEO Thomas Jackermeier recently moved aside. Despite this, according to Fanatec, the CSL Cockpit is available to ship from today across all regions.

Which rig do you think the CSL Cockpit rivals the most closely? Let us know in the comments below or on X, @OverTake_gg.
About author
Thomas Harrison-Lord
A freelance sim racing, motorsport and automotive journalist. Credits include Autosport Magazine, Motorsport.com, RaceDepartment, Overtake, Traxion and TheSixthAxis.

Comments

I can hear the creeks and metalic bangs just from looking at the pictures.

Maybe ill be proven wrong but I dont see that thing holding 25nm in any usable capacity.
 
I had the old CSL rig and still use it. After I added a small lumbar pillow ($5 at Ikea), it is still more comfortable than my new, fancy aluminum profile rig with a racing seat. But totally non-adjustable once you have it set up. This one looks like a substantial improvement in that regard.

On an unrelated note, I have ordered 3 times from Fanatec in the last 2 months and every single item arrived within 4 days. The latest was a Clubsport Formula 2.5 that arrived in only 3 days. In 14 years of ordering from them, nothing has taken over a week. I'm in Dallas, which I think is near one of their warehouses, or maybe I'm just lucky.

All I'm saying is: Order with confidence if you're in the American Midwest. You will get your stuff fast.
 

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It doesn't look very stable, everything looks so slim, and this will hold 25 nm??? I can't believe that!
Don't get fooled by what you're used to look at. It could flex like hell, I agree, but it could also be very stiff and stable.
As an engineer, it looks decently designed at the parts that usually flex the most.
But it depends on the exact materials and how well it got calculated.
 
I had the old CSL rig and despite what it looks like, it is rock solid even with a DD wheel (CSL-DD 8nm). Remember it just needs to be stable in relation to itself, not the floor its sitting on.
 
Holy moly. Fanatec are unbelievable. In just the past couple or so months we've seen them release a new GT package, new DD base, new rims, and now a new cockpit, all while they literally can't deliver on their pre-existing products or even just answer emails.

Get your priorities right and get your **** in order before you collapse. No wonder the CEO got the boot.

Oh, and personally speaking, that cockpit looks very unpleasing to the eye. To me, part of the joy of simracing is building your rig - just like it is when building your PC, and I love making my simracing space as pleasurable as possible, so that frame ain't cutting it in my book. I'm perfectly happy with my GT Omega Titan anyway thanks.
 
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Premium
Holy moly. Fanatec are unbelievable. In just the past couple or so months we've seen them release a new GT package, new DD base, new rims, and now a new cockpit, all while they literally can't deliver on their pre-existing products or even just answer emails.

Get your priorities right and get your **** in order before you collapse. No wonder the CEO got the boot.

Oh, and personally speaking, that cockpit looks very unpleasing to the eye. To me, part of the joy of simracing is building your rig - just like it is when building your PC, and I love making my simracing space as pleasurable as possible, so that frame ain't cutting it in my book. I'm perfectly happy with my GT Omega Titan anyway thanks.
To be fair, there's not much building going on with a GTO Titan either.
 
I had the old CSL rig and still use it. After I added a small lumbar pillow ($5 at Ikea), it is still more comfortable than my new, fancy aluminum profile rig with a racing seat. But totally non-adjustable once you have it set up. This one looks like a substantial improvement in that regard.

On an unrelated note, I have ordered 3 times from Fanatec in the last 2 months and every single item arrived within 4 days. The latest was a Clubsport Formula 2.5 that arrived in only 3 days. In 14 years of ordering from them, nothing has taken over a week. I'm in Dallas, which I think is near one of their warehouses, or maybe I'm just lucky.

All I'm saying is: Order with confidence if you're in the American Midwest. You will get your stuff fast.
This may be off-topic, but isn't it funny that every simrig requires a pillow to support your back? I used to think it was a big problem from my rig until I saw Simon Pagenaud running around with a big white pillow while setting his spare rig to complete the Le Mans Virtual during the pandemic...
 
Premium
It looks like no one has thought it through at all, too many small details and screws, I hope they send a well detailed manual with this monster, You can get a Sim Lab GT1 EVO for the same price depending on where you live
 
To be fair, there's not much building going on with a GTO Titan either.
The Titan bizarrely lacks a keyboard and tray mount, but covers everything else (when used in conjunction with their / a display mount). That said and yes to be fair, the Titan costs more than this Fanatec rig, so maybe this new setup does have a place in the market - but I wasn't saying that it didn't, I just don't like the look of it.

My main grudge was and is Fanatecs choice to spend too much focus on developing and lauching products and not enough on being a functional and reliable business. Just rubs salt into an already bad enough wound.

To be positive though, I hope this unit sells and contributes to Fanatecs turnaround in form.
 
I have the same setup as the one in the first pic and my good old Wheelstand Pro does the job just fine.
 
Premium
The Titan bizarrely lacks a keyboard and tray mount, but covers everything else (when used in conjunction with their / a display mount). That said and yes to be fair, the Titan costs more than this Fanatec rig, so maybe this new setup does have a place in the market - but I wasn't saying that it didn't, I just don't like the look of it.

My main grudge was and is Fanatecs choice to spend too much focus on developing and lauching products and not enough on being a functional and reliable business. Just rubs salt into an already bad enough wound.

To be positive though, I hope this unit sells and contributes to Fanatecs turnaround in form.
Luckily the keyboard mount from TrakRacer works perfectly on it. Otherwise it would be irritating. Other than that, and needing to use third party bolts to mount my base to it, the Titan has been brilliant and very solid.
 
Premium
They release all these new products and we still haven’t got a Clubsport level GT wheel equivalent to a 300mm Formula V2 or the Simagic GT Neo.
 

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