RacGTing Striver 809 — Review
Today we’re taking a close look at the RacGTing Striver 809, a tubular F1-style cockpit that enters a unique and rather niche segment.
With a design that instantly screams Formula 1, the Striver 809 aims to deliver style, comfort, and value — all at around €400, making it one of the most affordable dedicated F1-style rigs on the market.
🏎️ Design & First Impressions
The RacGTing Striver 809 stands out immediately thanks to its sleek single-beam design and Formula 1-inspired curves.
You’ll notice:
- The front wings reminiscent of an F1 car
- A black and red color scheme with painted red accents (not stickers)
- A narrow, aerodynamic form
This alone puts it visually ahead of competitors like the Playseat Formula and Next Level Racing F-GT, both of which rely on stickers rather than painted details.
There were some small imperfections in the paint on the front section, but given that this is a €400 rig, painted finishes at this price are still impressive.
✅ Verdict: Stylish, authentic F1 design with premium touches for its class.
🧱 Build Quality & Structure
Unlike most GT-style rigs, the Striver 809 uses a single central support pole for the wheelbase — a design I’ve criticized before.
However, RacGTing executed this concept very well:
- The central pole is reinforced with twin metal support rods.
- The structure feels stable, even under strong force feedback.
- Flex is present but limited to the pedals, not the steering.
The floating pedal plate, however, lacks rear support. When braking hard on load-cell pedals, there’s noticeable flex, which can affect brake consistency for advanced users.
✅ Verdict: Very good rigidity for a single-pole F1 rig, though pedal plate flex is the weak point.
🪑 Comfort & Seating
Despite its sporty shape, the seat on the Striver 809 is surprisingly comfortable.
- The backrest is firm and supportive — you can safely lean on it while entering or exiting the rig.
- Springs in the seat base and backrest add cushioning for longer sessions.
- Bolstering is a little narrow for broader shoulders, but overall comfort is excellent.
It’s so comfortable, you could almost take a nap in it — which says a lot for an F1 cockpit.
✅ Verdict: Supportive and ergonomic — ideal for long Formula-style sessions.
⚙️ Adjustability & Configuration
The RacGTing 809 offers a surprising range of adjustments for an F1-style cockpit:
- Wheelbase tray can tilt and slide forward/backward.
- The entire assembly can move along the twin base rails for better reach.
- Pedal plate also slides and tilts up to 60° — perfect for aggressive F1 pedal angles.
- Monitor height can be adjusted (though distance remains fixed).
Compared to the Playseat Formula, configuration is much easier and more intuitive.
Finding a good driving position — even for different wheelbases — was quick and comfortable.
✅ Verdict: Excellent configurability, especially considering the price.
🧩 Compatibility
Out of the box, the Striver 809 supports:
- Logitech
- Thrustmaster
- Fanatec
- MOZA
- Simagic
- Cammus
⚠️ Newer models (like the Thrustmaster T598) may have updated bolt patterns, so it’s best to confirm with RacGTing before purchasing.
✅ Verdict: Broad compatibility — ready for most mainstream sim hardware.
🎁 Features & Included Accessories
This is where RacGTing shines — the Striver 809 comes as a complete package.
Included out of the box:
- 🖥️ Display holder
- ⚙️ Shifter / button box mount
- 🧩 Mounting bolts for pedals and wheelbase
- 🧼 Protective floor carpet
- 🔴 Red cable binders
Everything you need is included — no need to buy extras.
In fact, it’s so complete that it might even be too complete for a Formula-style rig.
The shifter mount, for example, isn’t very useful unless you’re simulating a classic F1 car, but it’s great for mounting a button box.
✅ Verdict: Extremely generous package — unmatched in its price segment.
🌐 Ecosystem & Expansion
There isn’t a dedicated expansion ecosystem yet, but honestly, you won’t need much more.
The Striver 809 already includes the accessories most drivers would purchase separately.
A small touch like a cup holder would have been nice, but it’s hardly a dealbreaker.
✅ Verdict: Not much of an ecosystem — but it doesn’t need one.
💰 Price & Competition
| Rig | Price | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| RacGTing Striver 809 | ~€400 | F1-style | Complete bundle |
| Playseat Formula | ~€900 | F1-style | Requires extra accessories |
| Next Level Racing F-GT | ~€599 | Dual-mode GT/F1 | Dual beam design |
Promotions and creator discount codes can bring the Striver down even further — sometimes well below €400.
Given the painted finish, included display mount, and solid construction, this rig offers exceptional value.
✅ Verdict: Half the price of the Playseat Formula with similar build quality — unbeatable for value.
⚖️ Pros & Cons
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
|---|---|
| Painted finish (no stickers) | Floating pedal plate flexes under braking |
| Comfortable seat and solid backrest | Narrow shoulder area |
| Complete package (display mount, carpet, bolts) | Fixed display distance |
| Good stability for single-pole design | Smaller ecosystem |
| Excellent price/performance | Minor paint imperfections |
🏆 Final Verdict
The RacGTing Striver 809 is a fantastic entry into the Formula-style sim rig category.
While it’s not perfect — with some pedal flex and limited refinement — it offers an amazing feature set for half the price of its main rival, the Playseat Formula.
It’s comfortable, stable, visually striking, and comes loaded with extras right out of the box.
If you’ve always wanted a Formula-style cockpit but couldn’t justify the high prices, the RacGTing Striver 809 is the perfect choice. It’s the best bang-for-buck F1-style tubular cockpit available today.
Extra resources:
- 🎥Video review
- 🛒Affiliate-link (Voucher SDR10 for 10% off)
