Source video: Daniel Morad — Pro GT Driver Sim Seating Position: Make Your Sim Feel Like a GT3 Car!

A GT3 ergonomics guide—not a shopping list

The original version of this TFS article described wheels, pedals, software and audio as if Daniel Morad’s video were a general equipment guide. It is not. The 22-minute source video focuses specifically on cockpit ergonomics and GT3-style driving position.

Morad approaches the subject as a professional GT driver who wants his simulator to resemble the position used in a Mercedes-AMG GT3. His personal rig in the video uses an Advanced SimRacing ASR Pro cockpit, a fixed bucket seat and a Simucube 2 Ultimate Base Direct Drive, but the method is designed to transfer to other modular cockpits.

The important principle is relational: dimensions must be measured between your body and the controls, not copied from the ground or from another driver’s rig. A taller driver, a deeper bucket seat or a different pedal geometry will change the final numbers.

Adjust the cockpit in this order

1. Seat: establish pelvis, lower-back and thigh support.
2. Pedals: set distance, lateral alignment, relative height and pedal-deck angle from the fixed seat.
3. Wheel: set reach, height and tilt after the lower body is stable.
4. Screen: align it with the final eye position.

Changing the seat later moves the hips, knees, shoulders and eye line, so it invalidates almost every adjustment made after it. This is why Morad starts with the seat rather than placing the pedals at an arbitrary height.

Seat: support the body before chasing angles

Fixed bucket seat or reclining seat?

Morad prefers a fixed bucket seat with side mounts. Side brackets allow the front and rear of the seat to use different mounting holes, making it easier to combine thigh support with a reclined back. A reclining seat can be easier to adjust, but its bottom-mounted construction may limit the angle of the seat base and allow the driver to slide under heavy braking.

This is a preference based on his GT-style setup, not a rule that makes every reclining seat unsuitable. The decisive tests are whether the pelvis stays fixed, the thighs are supported and the lower back remains in contact with the seat under maximum brake pressure.

Daniel Morad’s reference angles

These measurements describe Morad’s seat and body. He explicitly warns viewers not to become fixated on the exact numbers. The functional target is more important: when brake force rises, the lower back should press into the seat instead of arching away from it. If the shell shape leaves a gap, adjusting the seat angle or carefully adding lumbar padding can improve support.

Explore TFS Sim Racing seats and rigid cockpits.

Pedals: set the body-to-control relationship

Distance: test the end positions

Set the throttle so the leg remains relaxed at full throttle. If it is too far away, the driver reaches with the calf and smaller muscle groups; if it is too close, the resting foot may apply unwanted throttle. The brake can sit slightly closer than the throttle if that suits the driver’s technique and the pedal set allows individual adjustment.

For the brake, Morad initiates pressure with the quadriceps, lets the heel reach the heel stop near peak pressure, then uses that support while bleeding pressure. That is his technique, not a mandatory method for every pedal geometry. The transferable principle is to generate heavy brake force with the larger leg muscles without locking the knee, overextending the ankle or moving the pelvis.

Lateral alignment: hips, knees and feet in one plane

The seat and pedals should be aligned so the braking leg does not push diagonally across the body. Morad warns that lateral misalignment can load the knee awkwardly under a stiff brake. If the cockpit forces the pedals off-centre, align the seat and body to the pedal position as closely as the hardware permits.

Height: stop measuring from the floor

Morad’s heels sit approximately level with the bottom of his pelvis, but he rejects that as a universal floor measurement. Pedal height depends on the seat angle and the driver’s proportions. His more useful reference is the angle behind the knee: approximately 130°, with his measured position close to 127° in the video.

Use that only as a baseline. The correct position keeps the leg bent at full pedal travel, allows the quadriceps to produce brake force and avoids reaching or excessive compression.

Pedal-deck angle: control the pivot point

When Morad’s pedal deck was tilted by only around 6°, his heel lifted from the heel plate as the foot moved beyond the pedal pivot. Raising the rear of the pedal deck to approximately 12° kept the heel supported and improved repeatability. This is different from saying that every pedal face must be set to 12°: pedal-arm geometry, plate angle and mounting position all affect the result.

The practical test is simple. Through the full throttle and brake travel, the heel should not be forced to float, the ankle should remain controlled, and the foot should not work excessively beyond the pedal’s pivot point.

Compare current Sim Racing pedal sets and confirm that the chosen cockpit offers enough tray adjustment for the intended geometry.

Wheel: reach first, then angle and height

Distance: use the wrist-over-wheel test

With the shoulders against the seat, extend one arm over the top of the steering wheel. Morad positions the wheel so the wrist reaches approximately the top of the rim. Returning the hands to the driving position should then create a relaxed bend of roughly 90° at the elbows.

This avoids straight-arm driving, which can pull the shoulders away from the seat and load the front of the shoulders. The body should remain supported while the chest, back and arms share the steering effort.

Angle: keep the wrists neutral

Morad uses a wheel angle of approximately 14° in this GT3-style position. His criterion is not the number itself: with the hands on the wheel, the wrists should remain straight rather than bent upward or downward. The ideal angle therefore changes with steering-wheel diameter, grip position, seat recline and Base Direct Drive mounting.

He mentions driving his Simucube 2 Ultimate at around 13 Nm in this setup. That value is contextual, not a recommendation. Force feedback must be configured for the simulator, car, wheel diameter, hardware limits and the driver’s ability to maintain control without strain.

Height: use the shoulder as the reference

Morad sets the wheel so the top of the hand, when holding the wheel, sits approximately level with the top of the shoulder. Too low can overuse the chest and front of the shoulder; too high can load the upper back and trapezius. Test steering in both directions while keeping the shoulders against the seat.

Browse TFS Direct Drive wheel bases and Sim Racing steering wheels.

Screen: centre it on the natural eye line

Only set the display after the seat, pedals and wheel are final. Sit naturally with the head relaxed against the driving position, then place the centre of the visible screen on the eye line. This provides a balanced view above and below the virtual horizon and reduces the temptation to tilt the head.

Screen height is not the same as field-of-view calibration. Once the physical position is fixed, the simulator’s FOV must still be calculated from eye-to-screen distance, screen size and display configuration.

GT3 Sim Racing seating-position checklist

• The pelvis does not slide under maximum braking.
• The lower back remains supported without a gap opening under pressure.
• The shoulders stay against the seat during steering.
• The throttle leg remains relaxed at full travel.
• The brake leg pushes in line with the hip and knee.
• The knees stay bent at full pedal travel.
• The heels remain controlled on or near the heel plate.
• The wrists stay neutral at the normal grip position.
• The elbows remain comfortably bent rather than locked.
• The wheel clears the thighs and seat sides.
• The screen centre meets the natural eye line.
• A full braking-and-steering test produces no pain, numbness or forced reaching.

Change one variable at a time and repeat the checks. A five-millimetre movement or a small angular adjustment can matter more than copying a professional driver’s exact measurements.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best Sim Racing seating position?

There is no single set of dimensions. For a GT3-style position, start with a supported bucket seat, align the pedals with the hips, retain relaxed bends at the knees and elbows, keep the wrists neutral and place the screen centre on the eye line.

Should Sim Racing pedals be level with the seat?

Not by a universal floor measurement. In Morad’s rig the heels are roughly level with the bottom of his pelvis, but he prioritizes leg angle, full-travel comfort and use of the quadriceps over absolute height.

How far should the steering wheel be from the seat?

With the shoulders against the seat, the wrist should reach approximately the top of the steering wheel. At the normal grip position, the elbows should remain comfortably bent and the shoulders should not lift away from the seat.

Is Daniel Morad’s 32–34° seat angle mandatory?

No. It describes his seat-bottom angle in this video. Different shells, brackets and body proportions require different measurements. Use lumbar support, pelvis stability and comfort under braking as the validation criteria.

Does this position also apply to Formula Sim Racing?

Not directly. The video recreates a GT3-style driving position. A Formula position generally changes seat recline, hip and heel relationship, leg extension, steering-wheel placement and screen geometry.

What should be adjusted first on a cockpit?

Seat first, then pedals, wheel and screen. Each stage depends on the body position established by the previous one.

Source reviewed against Daniel Morad’s full video and English transcript. The numerical angles are Morad’s personal reference values, not universal ergonomic prescriptions.