The Fanatec brand has been present on the sim-racing market for many years, with products for virtually every rider. Its catalog covers the entry-level (CSL), mid-range (ClubSport) and top-of-the-range (Podium), with specific products for each category.

Ever since the brand’s beginnings, it has been considered the Go-To for any racer looking for reliable, immersive products that are also relatively affordable if you compare Fanatec’s sim-racing peripherals to those of Simucube for example, which belongs to the ultra-premium segment. However, the German manufacturer (Fanatec) is not in second place to Simucube, even if these two brands do not share the same sim-racing market.

Fanatec is most certainly best known for its bundles. The manufacturer offers complete bundles, including bases and flywheels, or bases, flywheels and pedalboards. Among the latter, we have the CSL READY2RACE bundle, which is the perfect candidate for novice pilots. Its selling price makes it extremely competitive with the competition, especially those in the belt-geared base segment. In what follows, we’ll take a look at all the details of this bundle.

Main and technical features of the bundle

• Direct Drive base developing 5 nm of torque
• 30 cm-diameter composite steering wheel, completely round
• PC-compatible and technically Xbox-compatible too
• Standard CSL crankset, without Load Cell
• 13 buttons, one JoyStick and 2 paddles as controls
• Small LED display on top of steering wheel
• QR1 Lite on back of steering wheel
• Compatible with the entire Fanatec ecosystem

CSL Ready2Race design

Let’s start with the design of this bundle. Well, the base is nothing other than the CSL DD we all know. Its fairly square shape, with a cylinder inside, is sober, with an all-black exterior dotted here and there with a white Fanatec logo.

The CSL P1 V2 steering wheel is also entirely black, with a carbon-fiber skin on the faceplate. The shape of the wheel is entirely round, with rubber around the rim. At the rear of the wheel are 2 large aluminum paddles, enhancing the design and quality of a very basic wheel.

The pedalboard is the standard CSL Pedals, which I find rather neutral. The design is sober, but the choice of colors is not the best. The footrest is black, with the pedal plates also in the same color, but the rest of the structure is silver.

Customized assembly

The CSL DD is an entry-level base, so you can mount it on anything and everything. If you opt to mount it on furniture, you’ll need to purchase Fanatec’s Table Clamp, which provides a secure hold, as well as good adjustment of the base’s inclination.

Nevertheless, you can install this base on virtually any cockpit/chassis available on the market, if you prefer to go that route of course. Mounting is quick and easy, using rails on the bottom and sides of the base, where ” T “-shaped nuts will secure everything.

As for the pedalboard, it’s not in Load Cell, even though an LC version of the same device exists, so you can use it on the ground, thanks to rubber pads that prevent the device from being left out in the sun. You can also install it on a chassis/cockpit, but the operation is a little tricky because of the screws on the front of the pedals. Doable, yes, but tricky.

Manufacturing and finishing

The CSL DD comes in a standard finish, with metal for the housing and drive shaft. This choice of material was mainly dictated by the technical aspect: metal is a very good heat dissipator, compared to plastic. But then, it also gives a premium look to the base.

The CSL Pedals also uses metal for its entire structure, from the footrest to the 2 pedals. The finish is very well made for such an inexpensive product, I must admit. Otherwise, in terms of build quality, it’s not bad either.

And then we arrive at the CSL P1 V2 steering wheel. Well, compromises had to be made to achieve such a low sales price, and it shows at first glance. Finish-wise, it’s well put together for an entry-level steering wheel. The composite structure, which is just a fancy way of saying it’s plastic, gives it good rigidity, and the carbon-fiber skin is there to enhance the overall finish. But it’s still an inexpensive steering wheel, and you quickly feel it in your hand.

Getting started with the bundle

The CSL P1 V2 steering wheel is an attractive wheel, which is easy to grip thanks to its 30 cm diameter. The thickness is not bad, even if it tends towards the small diameter as far as I’m concerned. Admittedly, it’s not at the same level of grip as a ClubSport Porsche steering wheel, for example, but it does the job.

Controls on the faceplate are well distributed, with over a dozen buttons and 2 paddles. The latter are really nice, and a good size too, making them easy to reach in the middle of a race. And the same goes for the rest of the buttons, by the way. Fanatec’s steering wheels have always been ergonomic, so there’s not much to worry about.

For the CSL Pedals, you can adjust the pedals on various points, such as the pedal plate or the spacing between pedals. I don’t have much more to say about this device, for the simple reason that it’s so basic.

Sensations during play

For the feel, I’ll start with the bundle’s pedalboard. The CSL Pedals represent Fanatec’s entry-level crankset, although they are of course customizable (clutch pedal, Load Cell kit). In its standard form, sensations aren’t the best. Admittedly, it’s better than the Logitech G923 crankset, but the brake pedal doesn’t offer that much resistance underfoot.

As far as the 5 nm CSL DD is concerned, it’s an excellent base for Direct Drive beginners and even amateur drivers. The feel is linear, excellent, immersive for the power on offer, and quite realistic too. You won’t need to set up the base so much once it’s out of the box, as it’s pretty much stock configuration.

However, given that the steering wheel is part of the CSL range, the QR1 Lite will have a slight play on its axis due to its plastic structure. This isn’t a problem for the 5 nm of the base, but it could be a problem if you opt in the future for the boost kit that will take the CSL DD to 8 nm of torque.

CSL Ready2Race compatibility

This bundle is compatible with the entire current Fanatec ecosystem, from steering wheels (provided you have the QR2 if necessary) to pedalboards and other peripherals (shifters, handbrakes, etc.). As for sim-racing titles, the entire team will be supported by the base, so no problem there.

As for the platform, on paper this bundle only works on PC because of the CSL P1 V2 steering wheel, but the base is compatible with Xbox. So, if you buy another steering wheel for Xbox, you’ll be able to use this bundle on Microsoft consoles without any problem. And if you’re on Playstation, then I recommend you take a look at the GT DD Pro, which is a must-have bundle from the brand.

Value for money

Currently priced at €400, this bundle offers excellent value for money in its category. It’s not the most premium of the lot, nor the most powerful for that matter, but it gives you what you need, where you need it.

My verdict on Fanatec’s CSL Ready2Race bundle

The CSL Ready2Race bundle is excellent as far as I’m concerned. It’s perfect for beginners and sim-racing enthusiasts. Its price makes it competitive, and Fanatec’s ecosystem means you can easily upgrade your setup along the way.

If you’re looking for a complete bundle on the cheap, this is the one to choose. Fanatec remains a benchmark when it comes to sim-racing bundles, and that’s not likely to change any time soon.