Source video: Serial Driver — Circuit One actuator test: a serious SimRig SR3 rival?

A transparent test context

Serial Driver had already been using a SimRig SR2 for more than three years and also knew the SR3 before testing the Circuit One system. He nevertheless makes an important distinction: this is an experienced user comparison, not a laboratory comparison of every motion system on the market.

There is also a commercial relationship to disclose. Serial Driver explains that he is part of The French Simracer team, that TFS distributes Circuit One, and that he provided feedback on an advanced pre-production unit as the hardware and software evolved. According to the video, neither TFS nor Circuit One approved the verdict before publication. The hands-on observations below therefore remain attributed to Serial Driver; the technical data and current commercial information are checked against the TFS listing.

What is the Circuit One D Force 1?

The D Force 1 is a four-actuator system that moves an aluminium-profile cockpit in three degrees of freedom: heave, pitch and roll. In practical terms, it can reproduce vertical movement, fore-aft weight transfer under acceleration and braking, and lateral chassis roll.

Circuit One also combines chassis movement with high-frequency haptic feedback inside each actuator. The aim is not simply to tilt the cockpit, but to transmit kerbs, track texture, tyre events and short impacts through the structure.

At the time of this article, the TFS listing shows the complete system at €4,999.90. That reconciles with the approximately €5,000 price discussed in the video. Price and availability can change, so the current product page remains the reference.

Compact hardware and direct installation

The physical design is one of the clearest strengths in the video. Each black anodised actuator visually blends into an aluminium-profile cockpit instead of looking like a large external mechanism. Serial Driver considers the integration exceptionally clean, almost as if the actuators were the cockpit’s original feet.

On a standard 8020-style aluminium-profile cockpit, the actuators mount directly with the supplied hardware. The current TFS specifications call for M8 × 20 mm mounting screws for the actuators and M4 × 14 mm screws for the LINK control box. No additional side bracket is required on a compatible standard profile.

The wiring is deliberately simple. Each actuator uses one non-polarised cable connected to a compact control box. During the setup wizard, the RGB ring identifies each actuator in turn so the user can assign front left, front right, rear left and rear right without labelling the cables beforehand.

Installation still involves safely raising a complete cockpit, positioning four actuators and checking that no cable can be pinched by the moving structure. “Simple” therefore refers to the actuator attachment and configuration, not to the weight of the cockpit or the safety precautions required.

Circuit Manager: a strong foundation that was still maturing

Circuit Manager for Windows handles initial geometry, actuator assignment, game profiles, per-axis tuning, RGB telemetry effects and firmware updates. Serial Driver found the onboarding clear: the assistant checks the physical installation, asks for the distance between the actuators and then guides their assignment.

The RGB lighting is more functional than it first appears. It communicates standby, active and paused states, and can also react to telemetry such as flags, pit-lane status, ABS or traction events. It remains optional from a driving perspective, but it can provide useful status information around the cockpit.

The important caveat is timing. The video was recorded in July 2026 while Circuit Manager was still labelled beta. Serial Driver had already seen substantial progress, but highlighted several missing or immature functions:

• no native button mapping to start, stop or adjust the actuators from the wheel or a button box;
• limited per-car profile management and imperfect automatic profile switching;
• a game list that was still expanding;
• fewer advanced effect controls than the mature SimRig software;
• no native VR motion compensation at the time of the test.

These are dated observations, not promises about a later version. Buyers should check the current Circuit Manager release notes when these functions are decisive.

What does the D Force 1 feel like on track?

iRacing: precise, fast and sharply localized

iRacing produced the most refined circuit experience in the test. Serial Driver describes kerb strikes and track plates as immediate and highly localized: he could distinguish whether two or four wheels were crossing a kerb and feel short lateral chassis movements rather than a vague whole-rig shake.

The 50 mm travel does not create large theme-park movements. Instead, the 150 mm/s speed produces short, dry and sometimes surprisingly forceful impacts. His first settings were too violent and needed to be reduced. Once tuned, the system delivered a high density of information without an obvious sensation of latency.

Le Mans Ultimate: lively, but less refined in this test

On Le Mans Ultimate, the system still conveyed road texture, lateral load and kerbs, but Serial Driver found the result shakier and less nuanced than in iRacing. Gear-shift effects and some kerb passages were less pronounced. He could not determine whether the difference came from the game telemetry or the way the beta software interpreted it.

The conclusion was not negative: LMU remained lively and enjoyable, simply one step below the iRacing profile tested in the same session.

Assetto Corsa Rally: where the response speed becomes spectacular

Assetto Corsa Rally showed the system’s entertainment value most clearly. Rapid bumps, road plates, ruts and suspension movement created an intense and natural experience. Serial Driver considered rally the best demonstration of the actuators’ response speed and impact detail.

The limitation also became clearer there. Large, purely vertical four-wheel compression and extension effects did not produce as much pumping or heave as he wanted. Lateral and one-side movements were convincing; broad vertical movement was the area where the SimRig system retained an advantage in his comparison.

Noise was considered acceptable for a system moving an entire cockpit. It naturally adds mechanical and structural sound compared with a static rig, but the actuators themselves were not judged excessively loud.

Circuit One D Force 1 vs SimRig SR3

This is not a simple “better or worse” result. The systems cost almost the same at TFS—€4,999.90 for the D Force 1 and €4,979.90 for the SimRig SR3, checked on 30 July 2026—but their hardware priorities and software maturity differ.

The load figures are not directly interchangeable: Circuit One publishes a per-actuator/per-axis value, while SimRig publishes the total moving mass including driver and rig. Do not compare 180 kg with 250 kg as if they measured the same thing.

Serial Driver ultimately refused to name a universal winner. He preferred the Circuit One hardware design and some impacts, while preferring SimRig’s software maturity, vertical movement and VR support. The clearer buying rule is this: choose D Force 1 for compact integration, fast impacts and haptics; choose SR3 for heavier complete rigs, larger heave travel and a more established software environment.

Who should choose the Circuit One D Force 1?

The D Force 1 is relevant if you already have a rigid aluminium-profile cockpit, a strong pedal set, a suitable Base Direct Drive and a PC setup, and now want to add motion without installing visually bulky actuators. It is especially compelling when short impacts, kerb detail, rally texture and compact integration matter more than very broad vertical travel.

Choose an alternative—or wait for a software update—if native VR compensation is essential, if you want the most mature possible tuning environment, if flight simulation is a major use case, or if your priority is larger-amplitude heave.

Motion remains a late-stage upgrade. At nearly €5,000, it should come after cockpit rigidity, seating position, controls and display or VR have already been addressed.

View the Circuit One D Force 1

Explore the complete Circuit One motion and haptic collection.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Circuit One D Force 1 better than the SimRig SR3?

Not in every area. The D Force 1 delivered sharper impacts, cleaner integration and impressive localized detail in Serial Driver’s test. The compared SimRig setup retained an advantage in broader vertical movement, software maturity and VR motion compensation.

Is 50 mm of travel enough for Sim Racing?

It was sufficient for convincing circuit and rally feedback in the video, particularly because the actuators move at up to 150 mm/s. The limitation was most noticeable on large four-wheel vertical compression and extension effects rather than on kerbs, texture or lateral movement.

Does the D Force 1 work in VR?

The hardware can be used while driving in VR, and Serial Driver did so in the test. However, Circuit Manager did not provide native VR motion compensation at that time. Check the current software status if compensation is required.

Is it compatible with PlayStation or Xbox?

The current TFS listing specifies PC/Windows only and no PlayStation or Xbox support. Although the video mentions an indirect Gran Turismo 7 telemetry method through a PC, this should not be treated as current official console compatibility without confirmation.

Which games were tested in the video?

Serial Driver drove in iRacing, Le Mans Ultimate and Assetto Corsa Rally. iRacing felt the most refined, LMU was lively but less nuanced, and rally highlighted the system’s speed and impact detail.

Product data and TFS price checked on 22 July 2026. Software functions, game support, price and availability can change. Hands-on impressions are attributed to Serial Driver’s source video.