In recent years, sim-racing has seen a surge in players worldwide. In the space of a decade or so, we’ve found ourselves with a huge number of brands in the sim-racing segment, touching many different markets.

This is true of many markets and products around the world, such as smartphones. It’s no longer unusual for new brands to emerge literally from nowhere, as in the case of Nothing. It’s true that this company uses the expertise of one of the founders of OnePlus, but it has to be said that its CEO and his teams are doing rather well in a market more or less dominated by Samsung and Apple.

In sim-racing, we have the game’s tenors, which are LogitechFanatec, Thrustmaster, Simucube and others. These brands have been active in the field for many years, some for decades. But every now and then, we get a newcomer who aspires to change the game, and somehow manages to succeed.

Among the new names in sim-racing, we have Simagic which was founded in 2018. There’s also Moza Racing which came into being in 2021 as the sim-racing subsidiary of a major Chinese electronics manufacturer, particularly of camera stabilizers, which is Gudsen Moza. And we also have Asetek SimSports which came into being in 2021 too, with a big ambition to compete with the high-end sim-racing giants.

In what follows, we’ll take a look at the sim-racing division of Asetek SimSports and then take a quick look at the brand’s beginnings.

Asetek SimSports products

Well, in this case, you have to do what the competition is doing: have numerous products spread over several ranges. That’s what Fanatec, Simagic, Simucube and all the other big names in sim-racing are doing. Oh yes, Asetek wasn’t going to reinvent the wheel, and you still need to take inspiration from the best when you want to enter a new segment.

Asetek SimSports currently offers 3 product ranges: La Prima, Forte and Invicta, representing respectively the entry, mid and top ranges of the Danish manufacturer of sim-racing peripherals. Now, you’ll quickly realize that Asetek’s entry-level range doesn’t at all mean the same thing as Thrustmaster‘s. On the other hand, what’s great about Asetek’s products is that they’re so easy to use. What’s great about Asetek’s vision, however, is that each product range has all the peripherals needed for sim-racing.

At Asetek, for each range, you get 3 peripherals; that is, in all, we currently have 2 steering wheels (I’ll come back to that below), 3 bases and 3 pedalboards, plus a universal QR that lets you attach steering wheels from other manufacturers to Asetek bases. We’ll take a closer look, don’t worry.

The La Prima range

The Prima is Asetek SimSports’ entry-level model. I put quotation marks around it, because price-wise, it’s not at all affordable. As I said earlier, the La Prima range features a Direct Drive base, an F1-style steering wheel and, of course, a Load Cell crankset. Asetek’s low-end range already includes high-end peripherals from other manufacturers.

For the La Prima base, this is a Direct Drive and develops 12 nm of maximum torque. The motor housing is made of metal, with a successful design in my opinion, and you can feel that it’s premium. The sensations are extraordinary, and I weigh my words carefully. The force feedback is superbly well proportioned, making you wonder if Asetek hasn’t been sneaking in sim-racing peripherals for years. The base communicates a lot about what the car in front of you is doing, regardless of the title you’re playing. It’s fun, frankly. Some brands have more experience in the field, but their DD bases aren’t on the same level as Asetek, which was born in 2021.

Let’s move on to the steering wheels in this range. Let there be no ambiguity: all Asetek steering wheels are formulaic. The La Prima range uses aluminum and carbon fiber. I’m not going to lie, it’s a beautiful design, with a rectangular shape, lots of controls and switches, and so on. The ergonomics of this steering wheel are excellent, even more so for fans of formula racing: in other words, you’re not going to be able to use this wheel for rally racing or leisurely driving sessions.

As far as the pedalboard is concerned, you have a peripheral that is… distinct as far as I’m concerned. The whole thing isn’t very pretty, and I prefer those of other premium brands. You have 2 pedals, one of which is a Load Cell brake pedal with in-house technology for excellent braking feel. In terms of feel, it’s superbly well reproduced: the pedal is hard, but its stroke is linear, putting this crankset right up there with the big names in sim-racing. Incidentally, you can add a clutch pedal if you wish.

For the peripherals in the La Prima range, you’ll need to spend €1135 ex-VAT to get the steering wheel, base and pedalboard as a bundle, and more if you go shopping solo. It’s still expensive, but these are excellent products you’ll get in return.

The Forte range

We now move on to the mid-range with Asetek’s Forte peripherals. This range aims to compete directly with one of the big names like Fanatec with its Podium range. Oh yes, in terms of price and product quality, the Forte range is up against the Podium range, not ClubSport.

Let’s start with the Forte steering wheel. Once again, we have a formula steering wheel, perfect for GT and F1 racing in general. It’s very similar to the La Prima steering wheel, with a lot more carbon fiber, switches and knobs. As far as I’m concerned, the design is handsome, fairly sober, with excellent ergonomics. This steering wheel uses Asetek’s in-house QR, which enables it to be mounted without bending or moving.

The Forte crankset is Load Cell again, with 2 pedals by default and a clutch pack to add a clutch pedal if required. The Load Cell uses Asetek’s in-house MLCPC technology to deliver linear, strong and reliable resistance. This pedalboard is excellent for sim-racing sessions as a pro or hardcore fan. I really have nothing to say about it, except that it looks a little too much like its little brother in the La Prima range.

As for the base, well, it’s the same thing: same design, bigger dimensions and more torque. On the Forte, we have a motor developing 18 nm of torque in Direct Drive, exactly 2 nm less than a 20 nm Podium DD1. I told you that Asetek is targeting Fanatec’s Podium range with its Forte products. So, in terms of feel, it’s extraordinary: everything the car does or feels is relayed to your hands via this base. Everything from changes in trajectory, wheel countersteering, loss of grip, the wet part of the track, etc. passes through the steering wheel and ends up in your hands and body. It’s amazing how communicative and precise this base can be.

Let’s talk about the price of this range. As a bundle, you get all 3 peripherals for €1,681 plus VAT. If you choose each peripheral on its own, the base will cost you €883, the steering wheel €547 and the pedal board €463, all exclusive of tax. If you buy the bundle, you’ll save around €200.

The Invicta range

This is Asetek’s top of the range, with only 2 products on sale at the moment. So we have a 27 nm torque base and a hydraulic crankset instead of Load Cell.

As for the base, it’s a Direct Drive delivering 27 nm of torque, putting it up against those offered by Simucube and Fanatec’s Podium DD2. The design is identical to Asetek’s other bases, with only differences in weight and dimensions. As for the racing feel, it’s thrilling. I’ve tried several Direct Drive bases over the years, and I have to say that Asetek’sInvicta is unique, and may well be the best. The sensations are simply ultra-realistic, with a very thorough feel for what the car is doing. By some magic, the engine communicates absolutely everything about the vehicle and its behavior.

The Invicta crankset uses an in-house hydraulic system, as mentioned above. This system is called T.H.O.R.P. and consists of a single 2-stage piston. The first stage is in the form of an elastomer, adjustable as you go, and represents the first stroke of the brake pedal, and it’s like in a car when you start braking: it’s soft and borderline light.

But as soon as you pass this first level, you get to the hydraulic fluid, and that’s when things really start to jam. The further you depress the brake pedal, the more pressure builds up in the system, simulating the power of your braking. This crankset can handle up to 185 kg of pressure, or 200 bar, at the foot, which is just enormous. And the harder you pedal, the more you’ll feel.

Let’s move on to the checkout, shall we? The Invicta base can be exchanged for the princely sum of €1302, and the crankset for €756, again excluding tax. You can also get the whole thing bundled with the Forte steering wheel for almost €2,400 ex VAT.

If you’ve been following this article, you’ve probably noticed the absence of an Invicta steering wheel. Well, that’s not really the case. There is currently no Invicta steering wheel on sale, but we do know that Asetek is developing one. Only time will tell when it will be released, and whether it will live up to its other little brothers.

Asetek: the story

This name is certainly familiar to PC gamers, especially those gravitating around the watercooling scene. Indeed, Asetek has been a major player in the PC watercooling industry since the late 90s.

The company was founded by a certain André Eriksen, a Dane who is still at the head of his little baby. Since its birth, Asetek has established itself in the watercolling game, with designs and patents that are widely used by players in the segment, from Cooler Master to Corsair, via be quiet!

The birth of Asetek SimSports

A question must be circulating in your mind right now: why would a company that makes watercooling tackle sim-racing? Well, it turns out that the company’s owner, André Eriksen, is a racing fan and took part in a number of car competitions in his youth. It’s also worth mentioning that André’s son is currently racing in the GT World Challenge, so a little extra help with the youngster’s training is not at all insignificant, and would even be appreciated.

As a result, Asetek SimSports was born, mainly to offer quality sim-racing peripherals to racers around the world, and incidentally to help André’s son to drive better and safer. There’s also the fact that Asetek’s CEO is still a racing fan, so…

Is Asetek a brand to consider for sim-racing?

Although the Danish company has only been present on the sim-racing market for 2 years, its engineering expertise and mastery of manufacturing processes give it an undeniable advantage.

Asetek SimSports is a brand to consider in sim-racing, especially if you’re PC-only and have the financial means to afford such equipment. I’m not going to lie to you: Asetek’s products aren’t cheap at all, and in my opinion, the Danish brand is much more of a competitor to Simucube than to Fanatec, and this shows not only in the prices, but also in the products themselves.

As far as I’m concerned, I’d recommend Asetek with all its products if you’re a PC user. However, if your preferred sim-racing platform is console, then in that case you’d be better off with Fanatec, because at the moment, no Asetek peripherals are certified for Sony or Microsoft consoles.