For over 20 years, Fanatec has been a major player in the sim-racing industry, offering high-quality, high-performance and relatively affordable peripherals. This German brand has not only revolutionized the world of sim-racing with numerous innovations, but has also democratized Direct Drive bases for Sunday drivers.

If you’re a fan of virtual racing, you probably know that Direct Drive bases have long been elitist products, accessible only to runners with experience and, above all, a hefty bank account. But with the release of CSL DDthe first affordable and accessible Direct Drive bases with 5 and 8 nm torque, Fanatec has changed the face of the international sim-racing market.

Fanatec’s catalog is currently complete, especially with the recent additions of the ClubSport DD and DD+ bases. So we have entry-level devices (CSL DD), mid-range devices (ClubSport DD) and top-of-the-range devices (Podium DD). In what follows, I’m going to introduce you to the new DD+ base, which competes with the Moza and Simagic on their own turf.

Main and technical characteristics of the base

• Direct Drive base developing 15 nm of constant torque
• Official Playstation 4 and 5 license, also PC compatible
• FullForce technology algorithm and hardware for maximum immersion
• QR2 Base Side standard on base, but compatible with QR1
• Compatible with the entire Fanatec ecosystem and virtually all sim-racing titles
• Angle of rotation electronically limited to 2520°, but adjustable
• Fully customizable base via software (PC and/or steering wheel)

Clubsport DD+ design

The DD+’s design represents the very essence of the German touch: simple, minimalist and conservative. Basically, the DD+ takes the design of VW and Audi cars in their purest form.

The cylindrical shape is very similar to that of the CSL DD, with a difference in size. The DD+ is dressed entirely in black, sprinkled here and there with a few white Fanatec logos. On the rear, there’s a blue ring, indicating that this is the DD+ version and not the DD, which has a yellow ring.

Customized assembly

Fanatec has used its two preferred mounting methods for the DD+: bottom mounting and side mounting. At the bottom of the base are 3 rails that can accommodate T-nuts (included, by the way) to mount this base to virtually any chassis, stand or even furniture, provided you have the specific clamp.

For the sides, we have two rails with the same T-nut fastening system. However, with this mounting method, you’ll need a chassis and/or stand compatible with the new Fanatec bases. And the Table Clamp also supports this mounting mode. However, the DD+ spits out a constant 15 nm of torque, which is likely to cause damage to the furniture you’re using, in addition to bending and other movements. As far as I’m concerned, a furniture clamp is only an option if the base doesn’t exceed 8 or even 10 nm of torque under certain conditions.

Manufacturing and finishing

As we’re used to seeing on Fanatec products, the ClubSport DD+ uses metal for the cabinet, and a high-quality one at that. The workmanship is truly meticulous, with no burrs. To tell the truth, I’d expect nothing less from a product in Fanatec’s ClubSport range, and I imagine the same goes for budding pilots looking for a quality peripheral.

The finish of the DD+ is also excellent, from the paintwork to the parts and their assembly. Everything is meticulous, with no apparent defects or quality control problems. Once again, the German brand offers us a premium product, very well finished.

Database settings

The DD+ can be set up in 2 different ways: on consoles (PS4 and PS5), you’ll need to use the Fanatec wheel to access the base settings (power and others). This is made possible by the screens fitted to all Fanatec wheels.

On a PC, you can use the first method, i.e. the steering wheel, or go directly to Fanalab for all your settings. On a PC, I’d say it’s more advanced, as Fanalab offers you not only all the base settings, but also those of other Fanatec peripherals, i.e. pedalboards, steering wheels, shifters, etc. Admittedly, you can make adjustments on the steering wheel screens for pedalboards, but let’s face it: it’s much better to adjust Fanatec products on PC than on consoles.

Sensations during play

After the various introductions to the DD+, it’s time to move on to the subject that matters most to us: sensations. First of all, it’s essential to spend some time finding your settings, as the DD+ proved to be rather poorly calibrated “out of the box”, at least for my preferences. As a result, a visit to the steering wheel and/or Fanalab is essential before starting any race or racing session with this base.

But once you’ve made the right adjustments, my God, this base is excellent! The engine is not only powerful enough to deliver the big effects of racing, but also fine enough to overwhelm you with light sensations such as small losses of grip, ABS interventions (if you have it activated), and so on.

What’s more, the reproduction of effects is truly realistic, and not exaggerated as can be found on some bases, where the engine and/or algorithm overdo it to compensate for its lack of finesse. I’ve rarely used a base as enjoyable as the ClubSport DD+ in sim-racing.

Another point worth mentioning is the responsiveness of this base. Fanatec has announced a responsiveness 2 times shorter than on the Podium DD1 and DD2, the brand’s flagship products, and I was able to confirm this, in addition to the fact that the cooling system is foolproof. The DD+ doesn’t heat up at all, even when pushed to its limits.

Clubsport DD+ compatibility

It’s no surprise that the ClubSport DD+ is compatible with the entire Fanatec ecosystem currently on sale, even the slightly older ones. Whether in terms of shifters, handbrakes, pedals, steering wheels (with the right QR), everything works perfectly with this base.

As far as sim-racing titles and platforms are concerned, you have all those available on the market, such as AC, ACC, rFactor, iRacing, F1, Dirt, WRC and so on. And for platforms, it’s Playstation (4 and 5) and PC. It’s a bit of a shame not to have native compatibility for Xbox, but with the right wheel, you can theoretically run DD+ on Microsoft consoles, with sometimes strange behavior I must warn you.

Value for money

The DD+ is currently listed at €999.95 on the brand’s website, with a delivery time of 4 to 7 days. As far as I’m concerned, the value for money is great for this base, especially after having had it in my hands to try out. Admittedly, it’s the same price as a Podium DD1, but the latter has been out of stock for quite some time. What’s more, the DD+ is potentially better in terms of feel and sensation.

My verdict on the Clubsport DD+ base from Fanatec

Fanatec really took its time to come up with these two new mid-range bases. The segment was becoming very competitive with Simagic Alpha and Moza R16. But the king is back, and I really enjoyed, even adored, the time I spent with this base.

Admittedly, the QR2 is no match for Simicube’s or even Simagic’s in some cases, but it’s definitely better than the QR1, which was pretty good no matter what anyone says about it. However, you’ll have to shell out €100 for the Wheel Side if you’ve got old Fanatec wheels. But frankly, it’s worth it.

The DD+ is just perfect as far as I’m concerned, on its segment and even on the one slightly above it (torque between 18 and 20 nm). If you can afford it, you can buy it without a second thought, because it’s an excellent base.