One of the essential elements of any setup is the steering wheel, along with the chainstay and pedals of course. The wheel is crucial because it’s dictated by your driving preferences: you’re not going to get a Formula-type steering wheel if you only do rally racing.

Among the brands present on the sim-racing market, we have Simagic. This manufacturer offers a complete range of peripherals, including the GTS steering wheel, which targets a wide audience of racers, both beginners and seasoned pros. In what follows, we’ll take a look at what this steering wheel has to offer.

Main and technical features of the steering wheel

• Aluminum-magnesium alloy structure
• 30 cm diameter, with leather or alcantara finish for the rollbar
• 2 magnetic rear paddles
• A total of 11 controls on the faceplate, including RGB buttons, rotarys and a RevLED.
• QR on rear Simagic derived from D1-Spec
• Weighs approx. 1.5 kg on the scale
• Compatible with the entire Simagic ecosystem, as well as with other bases and systems via USB connection

GTS design

Let’s start with the GTS design by Simagic. It’s a minimalist steering wheel, available in leather or alcantara for the hoop material. There’s red stitching on the inside of the wheel, a band of the same color at the top of the steering wheel, and a screenless faceplate.

The shape of the GTS is entirely round, with carbon-fiber paddles at the rear. Even though the steering wheel incorporates RGB on its buttons, frankly, it’s a quiet design. The LEDs aren’t very bright, so they’re not flashy and eye-catching. As I said above, the GTS is a minimalist wheel and will go perfectly with many sim-racing setups.

Customized assembly

At the rear of the steering wheel is Simagic’s Quick Release, inspired by and derived from the D1-Spec used in motor racing. It’s a rather standard QR for the brand, making it compatible with all its bases.

To mount the steering wheel on a peripheral (base), you simply pull on the red ring, align it and release the ring. It’s simple, quick to set up, and pretty robust when it comes to connecting to the base. However, there are a few reports and feedbacks that suggest the QR isn’t the most enduring. Personally, I haven’t noticed any problems with it, even after several hours’ use. It’s likely that these problems concern early versions of Simagic’s QR, as recent ones are solid.

Wheel manufacture and finishing

Made from an alloy of aluminum and magnesium, the GTS’s structure is very solid, giving the steering wheel a rigidity worthy of a real racing car. As for the leather, it’s a quality material for the price this steering wheel is offered at. But don’t expect leather like that found on premium cars, because it’s not the same.

Let’s move on to the finish. Having inspected the steering wheel closely, and also after spending hours on it, I didn’t notice any manufacturing defects at all. The GTS is both well made and well finished for a steering wheel that is technically in the entry-level range from Simagic.

Handling the steering wheel

The wheel is 300 mm in diameter, with a completely round shape. Coupled with this, the faceplate provides a total of 11 controls, including 7 RGB buttons, rotarys, switches, a RevLED, and 2 rear paddles.

The riding position is 9H15, with an excellent grip. The thick headband makes for a comfortable ride, whether for short or long sim-racing sessions. Buttons are close to your hands, on the sides of the faceplate.

As for the paddles, Simagic has only put 2 on the rear, but they’re a good size, and you can adjust their spacing. It’s only a few millimeters, I’d say 2 or 3, but that’s already a lot, as many competitors don’t offer this on their entry-level steering wheels.

Sensations during play

Let’s take a look at the Simagic GTS on a setup. Once you’ve set up the controls, with mapping and RGB, the GTS is a great wheel to get to grips with, not least because of its 30 cm diameter and entirely round shape, and also because of its light weight. You won’t need a heavy base to compensate for its weight, as the wheel weighs less than 1.5 kg.

The biggest advantage of this steering wheel is its ergonomics. All the controls, especially the buttons, are very close to your hands in the driving position. This also applies to the rear paddles, thanks to their size, but also to the fact that you can adjust their horizontal position. Basically, you can alter the location of the paddles in terms of spacing. It’s very handy for easily adapting to any rider, and a big plus for Simagic’s GTS.

Then there’s the rollbar; it’s big, with a thickness that varies slightly throughout the steering wheel, and it’s well made. On the version I have, the leather is well made, and I find it a much more durable material than alcantara. I can’t comment on the latter, as I haven’t tried it, but if you take the GTS with alcantara, I suggest you drive with gloves to prolong its life as much as possible.

This Simagic steering wheel is an excellent entry ticket into the brand’s catalog, and for sim-racing beginners too.

Wheel compatibility

The brand’s QR gives the GTS native compatibility with all Simagic bases. Whichever one you have or choose, the GTS will be supported by it and will operate as normally as possible.

As far as the platform is concerned, Simagic’s bases only work on PC, and the same applies to the GTS. It may be possible to use this steering wheel on a non-Simagic base that is compatible with consoles, but I’m not sure if the controls will remain functional.

Value for money

No matter which version of the GTS you choose, i.e. leather or alcantara steering wheel, the price remains unchanged. You’ll find it for around €350 from official Simagic distributors in France.

As far as I’m concerned, the GTS offers good value for money compared to the competition. It’s often much better placed than other wheels in its category, especially when it comes to functionality, materials and build quality.

My verdict on the Simagic GTS steering wheel

Simagic’s GTS has proven to be a superb steering wheel, capable of adapting to virtually any motorsport discipline you can race with it. It’s premium, well-built, solid, well-priced, and the gateway to the brand’s catalog.

It’s quite conceivable to buy it, use it for months, develop an affinity for a motorsport discipline (GT or endurance, for example), and swap it for a specific wheel. If you’re looking for a wheel that touches on several sim-racing disciplines, and you’re tempted to dive into the Simagic ecosystem, the GTS is, in my opinion, an excellent candidate for the steering wheel seat.