A Pro-Sim Sequential Shifter Review: What You Need to Know

In the competitive world of sequential sim racing shifters, one stands out. The Pro-Sim Sequential shifter is the pinnacle of the sequential shifter market. Expensive and loud, these are two complaints that I’m willing to overlook for this to find a permanent place on my main racing rig. I’ve been using the Pro-sim for several months, so this is a good time to share my experiences as part of a long-term review. Is this one of the best sequential shifters on the market… maybe?

I never used a sequential shifter, always using the paddle shifters on my wheel. After downshifting from 4th to 2nd in the battle for first more than once, I had to change something. Let’s be honest… sim racing wins come few and far for me. I needed to fix the double-downshifting.

About Pro-Sim

When real-life racing manufacturers start making sim racing products, the experience has to be excellent. Using a sequential shifter makes driving purposeful and exacting. The Pro-Sim shifter feels and acts like a real-life sequential shifter.

R.T. Quaife Engineering, Ltd. is a British manufacturer of automotive gearboxes, gearkits, and drivetrain products for the motorsport industry. Pro-sim, (“the car simulator of choice for many professional drivers including Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz, Mick Schumacher, Jimmie Johnson and many more”), has partnered with Quaife in adapting their products to the racing simulation industry. The result is a sim-racing sequential shifter that feels and acts like its real-life counterpart.

From the Pro-sim website:

“This shifter is the exact same mechanism used on a current production Quaife gearbox so the feeling is exactly the same as driving a real car.”

What I Liked

When you pay this much for a sequential shifter, when there are so many budget-friendly choices, it has to be different. From the size, weight, functionality, and beautiful profile, there is little to dislike.

A shifter has to simply shift gears, and over time, will go relatively unnoticed on a sim racing rig. The Pro-sim demands attention. After the wheel, pedals, and monitors, you see the Pro-sim shifter and realize this is no ordinary shifter.

Requirements

As with most aftermarket shifters, this requires a PC and an available USB port. Other than that, it is a generic USB device that requires no additional software or drivers and acts like any other USB sequential shifter.

This is important. You will need a beefy rig to secure and absorb the shifts from this device and a method to mount it securely. Most likely, you have an 8020 rig, and mounting this shifter to your rig is relatively simple.

Mounting this using four 8020 corner brackets to an aluminum profile that will absorb the constant pounding of aggressive shifting is easy. My Simlab P1X Pro comes with horizontal and vertical support for mounting a shifter. Still, you will need added vertical support or you will notice some movement when aggressively shifting gears.

What Exactly Do You Get at This Price Point?

Since you are paying a premium, what does this mean when you can purchase a shifter for far less money? There are no shortcuts with the Pro-sim, everything is just better.

• Better electronics: Contactless Hall effect sensors. Better sensors let you precisely control your gear shifts with no mechanical wear. Uses industry-standard Leo Bodnar board.

• Better build quality: The higher-end shifters use all metal materials and more robust mechanisms. This increases durability, reduces unwanted movement, and just feels more realistic. The Pro-sim uses a premium 835M19 steel, typically found in aerospace applications. Designed to last a long time.

• Mechanical design: Higher-end shifters offer more precise control and realism. Pro-sim does this by using a mechanism that pushes a ball bearing into a wheel with rounded cogs. The movement of the shifter moves the wheel forward (upshift) or backward(downshift), pushing the ball bearing out of the cog and into the next one, creating mechanical and audible feedback. Pulling on the shifter handle. You can adjust the tension by moving a screw attached to a spring that holds the ball bearing in place on top of the unit.

Technical Data

Material

Made out of a premium 835M19 steel, typically found in aerospace applications. Designed to last a long time.

Made in:

Designed and manufactured in the UK.

What’s Included

You get everything you would need to use the shifter.

• Pro-Sim by Quaife sequential shifter plug-and-play
• High-quality 2m USB A to B cable
• Mounting plate
• Aluminum formula style gear knob
• Shaft extension

There is an optional hydraulic shift-lock mechanism that mounts on top of the shifter using the provided mounting point. The hydraulic shift-lock mechanism prevents shifting unless the clutch is depressed or while accelerating. As a result, proper pedal and shifting techniques are required or the gears will grind or not engage at all.

3rd Party Additions

Shifter knobs are a personal choice, and changing the included knob to your own is easy enough. Unfortunately, the Pro-Sim shifter uses a non-standard mount. If you decide to use a different shifter knob, you will need a universal shift knob adapter. We found one like this to work for replacing the included knob with our favorite.

You can buy these from Amazon or your local auto parts dealer.

Overall Experience

I’ve been using this shifter as the primary sequential shifter in our testing lab and will have a difficult time letting this go and will most likely advocate for this to remain on my primary rig for a long time.

This shifter, although loud, is precise in its gear shifts. When moving through the gears, each shift is distinct and with purpose. Not only do you hear the shift, you feel the clunk as you move up or down through the gearbox. There is no danger in shifting too fast or without purpose.

Whether it be a nervous twitch or a heavy finger on the paddle shifters, the effort needed to shift the Pro-Sim eliminates both of these weaknesses so that when I shift, it is purposeful and direct. No more nervous missed shifts going into corners!

Am I Faster Using This Shifter?

Yes!

While I would like to say that this shifter has made me a faster driver by simply using it, that is not true. I am faster, but that is because I’ve been practicing more and have undoubtedly avoided untimely downshifts. I evaluated the $45 Aliexpress shifter after I tested the Pro-sim and found my lap times were even faster! So, it comes down to your preference for choosing your sim gear.

Do you Need This?

No. You can use the paddle shifters on your wheel and do just fine or purchase the inexpensive Aliexpress sequential shifter and have the same results. Do you want another level of immersion? Then yes. You need this shifter.

Conclusion

The Pro-Sim Sequential shifter is a serious piece of sim racing equipment offering functionality, quality, and aesthetics for an exorbitant price. While it may be one of the most expensive shifters on the market, the classic design, solid machinery, and functionality make this a solid choice for those with disposable income or financial backing from a motorsport team that results in a shifter with exceptional durability, built to last a lifetime, even under the toughest conditions.