Preparing a sim-racing setup can be tricky, especially for those just starting out in this gaming mode. Novices will tell you to just get a steering wheel + pedals + shifter combo, but true sim-racing fans will tell you that you’ve forgotten a crucial element in your setup: the handbrake.

There’s no denying that if you want realism in sim-racing games, you have to put in the effort. And if you’re going to use a button on the steering wheel as a handbrake, you might as well play with a joystick and that’s that.

Over the past few years, I’ve noticed that more and more sim-racing enthusiasts prefer to invest in a complete setup with steering wheel, pedals, shifter and racing handbrake. The brand Fanatec brand is a leader in this field of peripherals, and more specifically with the ClubSport range.

I’ve had the chance to try out the ClubSport Hand brake V1.5 on several occasions, and I thought it would be nice to share my impressions and feelings about this product.

Main technical specifications of the Fanatec ClubSport Handbrake V1.5

• Dimensions: 48.5 x 18 x 12.5 cm
• Metal construction
• Weight: 2.4 kg
• Aluminum handle
• Soft, non-slip foam for a secure grip
• Compatible with PC, Xbox One/ Series, Playstation 4 and 5

Features

One of the highlights of Clubsport Handbrake v1.5 is that it uses a potentiometer to precisely measure braking power or force. The data is then transmitted by analogous sensors, giving this handbrake a real driving feel.

This is the difference between the Clubsport Handbrake v1.5 and other models on the market that use digital sensors, as the latter have no signal modulation. This means that you’re either fully on the handbrake, or it’s not applied at all. Basically, using a handbrake with digital sensors is the equivalent of a button: as soon as you pull back on the stick, it’s on full blast.

Customized assembly

The second strong point of the Clubsport Handbrake v1. 5 is its modularity and practicality. This handbrake from Fanatec fits quite easily into your setup (preferably right next to the gearshift), and the inclination of the handle can be adjusted to suit your tastes. This allows it to be placed horizontally, above a table/setup, or vertically, on the edge of the table, depending on your preferences. Personally, I prefer to have it suspended (vertical), as well as the gearshift, for a quick grip, like rally drivers.

Because in a racing car, everything is designed to minimize driver fatigue as much as possible, and that’s why you’ll never find a racing driver stretching out his arm to shift gears, pull on the brake, and so on. All the essential driving elements are close to the driver, and that’s why the setup I use is geared towards this.

What I also like about Fanatec products is that they are designed to work perfectly with each other. The whole range of Clubsport peripherals fit together, especially the Shifter SQ V1.5 which can be directly attached to the Handbrake v1.5 to form a single “unit”. It’s just perfect, and very practical for enhancing immersion.

Manufacturing and finishing

As I said above, the Clubsport Handbrake v1.5 is made entirely of metal, with an aluminum handle and a soft foam anti-slip pad. The workmanship is just impeccable, worthy of a car manufacturer. The finish is perfect, and I can’t find anything to say about it.

I like to inspect the products I use or test to see if there are any manufacturing defects such as burrs on the metal or plastic. But on the Clubsport Handbrake v1.5, I found nothing. Absolutely nothing.

The quality is there, both in terms of manufacture and design. I’m sure that if you take good care of this handbrake, it will last for a very long time, maybe even too long.

Sensations during play

For in-game sensations, this handbrake has excellent resistance, making driving a realistic experience, especially if you’re a drift fan like me. Because let’s face it: you’re not going to buy this handbrake to play F1 22. You’re going to use it for drifting, or to take on rally stages at full throttle.

But not everything is rosy with the Clubsport Handbrake v1.5. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not really a problem with the handbrake itself, but rather with the time it takes to adapt to its use.

I’ve tried many sim-racing handbrakes, and a good proportion of them used digital sensors (basically, like buttons). Having become accustomed to this mode of operation, it took me some time to adapt to the Clubsport Handbrake v1.5 and its very precise analog sensors.

Once the muscle memory had been trained, the sensations were great, especially knowing that you could fully control the braking power of the rear wheels.

Compatibility

The Clubsport Handbrake v1.5 is compatible with PC, Xbox One/Series S – X, Playstation 4 and 5. Fans of sim-racing, whether on consoles or PC, will be delighted to see that this handbrake will work perfectly on their system.

As is customary with Fanatec products, this handbrake is 100% compatible and will work perfectly with the brand’s other peripherals, whether on console or PC. If you already own a Fanatec steering wheel, simply connect the handbrake to it using the 3.5mm cable supplied in the box, and you’re ready to go.

And if you have a third-party steering wheel, it’s perfectly possible to connect the Clubsport Handbrake v1.5 to it, using a USB cable. However, this will only work on PC. On consoles, you’ll need the same Fanatec peripherals.

Another point I’d like to address is the compatibility of games with analog sensors. On the PC, there’s no problem. Everything works fine. On consoles, however, it’s a different story. Some games support analog handbrakes, others don’t. For more information, I invite you to visit the manufacturer’s page to find out which games are compatible with Clubsport Handbrake v1.5 on console.

Value for money

The Fanatec Clubsport Handbrake v1.5 costs €130, almost double the price of other models on the market.

This may seem excessive for a product that is considered an accessory by some, but true sim-racing fans will recognize the value that this handbrake from Fanatec brings.

The product is beautifully finished, works perfectly and the metal construction ensures a long service life. All in all, an excellent quality product.

For console fans, the bill is bound to be hefty, as they’ll need to buy the full range of Fanatec products (steering wheel, pedals, shifter) to make this handbrake work.

But at this price, you’re sure to get a quality product that has little competition on the market, except perhaps from other Fanatec models.

My verdict

For me, a big fan of drifting, this handbrake is a must-have in my sim-racing setup. Those looking for real immersion in handbrake-based games will appreciate the features and build quality of the Fanatec Clubsport Handbrake v1.5.

Few brands offer similar sensors on their handbrakes, and Fanatec is by far one of the market leaders.

While the price might put some people off, Clubsport Handbrake v1. 5 will find takers who put realism and immersion first. This was the case for me, and I imagine it will be for you too.