Fanatecthe world-renowned German manufacturer of sim-racing peripherals, is back in the game with new products. The company’s catalog was beginning to show its age, but also a glaring void in the mid-range, which is highly prized by racers.

But that changed with the launch of the ClubSport DD and DD+, 2 Direct Drive bases developing 12 and 15 nm of torque respectively. To bolster its offering, Fanatec released new steering wheels in collaboration with RedBull, Bentley and Sparco, a new Load Cell handbrake, and other products.

Today, Fanatec’s catalog is truly comprehensive, offering everything you need to shop around, without having to look to other brands. Among the new accessories, we have the DD Shaft Extension, which is, as its name suggests, a driveshaft extension allowing you to bring the steering wheel 15 cm closer to you. And just in time, we’ve seen the DD Shaft up close and personal, and we’re going to tell you what it’s worth in sim-racing.

Key features and technical specifications

• 15 cm long extension
• Compatible with QR2 Type F
• Supported by the entire Fanatec ecosystem
• Entire structure in aluminum, CNC-machined
• Shaft-integrated electronics for connection and communication with Direct Drive bases
• Black anodized finish
• Weight 500 grams

Extension design

The DD Shaft’s design is really neat and minimalist. You have a kind of ring at the ends of the shaft, with a tube in the center. Visually, it’s very attractive, much better than Simagic’s offering, for example.

The all-black dress is punctuated by logos in just two places: the front ring with the Fanatec logo in white, and the rear ring with an arrow to indicate the direction of shaft installation, i.e. upwards so as not to damage the QR2 pins.

The only issue I have with the design is the color. Sure, the black is beautiful, and so is the paint, but it’s not the same shade as the base or the QR2. On a setup, it’s easy to see that the parts aren’t painted with the same color code. But this is purely aesthetic.

DD Shaft installation

Installing the DD Shaft on a ClubSport DD or DD+ is a very simple operation which will only take a few minutes at most. What’s more, the instructions are as detailed as we’re used to seeing on Fanatec products.

You must first remove the QR2 from the base, install the DD Shaft in its place, paying attention to the connection pins (and the instructions emphasize this), and install the QR on the other side of the shaft. Of course, you’ve got all the hardware you need to screw the shaft in place so that it doesn’t move.

The only challenge in installing the DD Shaft lies in the QR2 pins, which must not be bent, otherwise you’ll have to change everything. And I’m not talking about this accessory, but rather the Direct Drive base.

Manufacturing and finishing

This product is made of aluminum, which is machined by CNC machines. From what I understand, and also from my own investigation, it’s a single block of aluminum from which the excess is removed to form the shape of the DD Shaft. This technique results in a highly resistant, beautiful and, above all, superbly well-made part.

As far as the DD Shaft’s finish is concerned, it’s just like the rest of Fanatec’s products: flawless. Whether it’s the cut-outs, the paintwork or the logos, absolutely everything about this piece is perfect.

DD Shaft and the competition

Speaking of competition, we have Simagic and Moza Racing who offer similar products in 2 different lengths (15 and 20 cm). However, Simagic is out of the running because its shaft doesn’t quite live up to the brand’s reputation. The same applies to Moza’s budget-friendly solution, which is more or less a copy of Simagic’s. On the other hand, Moza’sRod is on a par with the DD Shaft in terms of design and finish.

Let’s end this chapter with the Asetek Extension. The QR Wheelbase Extension is quite simply in a league of its own, sailing on calm waters without the slightest threat within radar range. The comparison between DD Shaft and Asetek’s solution is therefore irrelevant, for the simple reason that these two products, and brands too, are aimed at a very different audience.

Comfort and sensations during play

Let’s move on to the comfort and feel of the DD Shaft. On the first point, the 15 cm closer to the steering wheel is excellent for endurance sessions. Your shoulders will thank you, as your body will adopt a more comfortable driving position, as found among racing drivers. On short runs, you won’t really feel the difference with or without the DD Shaft, comfort-wise all the same.

And in terms of feel, it’s more or less as if the steering wheel were directly connected to the drive shaft on a ClubSport DD+, and I imagine it’s the same on a standard ClubSport DD. This doesn’t surprise me at all, for the simple reason that this accessory has been specially designed for the latest Fanatec bases.

There’s no noise from the DD Shaft, there’s no play on the drive shaft, there’s no loss of feedback, there’s no delay with force feedback. There’s absolutely no downside to using DD Shaft. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that this product brings its own set of advantages to a setup, such as having a steering wheel closer to you, the possibility of adding a dashboard just above the shaft without obstructing your screen, plus the comfort that comes with it.

However, I am obliged to mention a negative point resulting from the use of such an accessory. This is the leverage effect, and this will inevitably introduce movement or play into your chassis, if the latter is not solid. With such a shaft, you’re multiplying the force applied to the DD base deck, and this will lead to play, vibrations and probably a whole host of parasitic sensations on your setup. If the cockpit isn’t really strong, avoid using such an accessory.

DD Shaft compatibility

Well, let’s talk about compatibility, a much-debated subject with DD Shaft. Fanatec is used to having products, accessories and peripherals compatible with its entire sim-racing range. This applies to steering wheels, pedals, shifters, handbrakes, button modules, etc., with the exception of certain products requiring specific peripherals, such as steering wheels.

With the DD Shaft, things have changed: this accessory is only compatible with ClubSport DD and DD+. In other words, it can only be used with the QR2 Type-F that equips the bases I’ve just mentioned.

Value for money

The DD Shaft is priced at €119.95 on the Fanatec website, giving it very good value for money in its category. It’s more expensive than the Simagic solution, as well as being better, and practically the same price as the equivalent Moza Racing product.

My verdict on Fanatec’s DD Shaft extension

This shaft has proven to be an excellent addition to a sim-racing setup. It’s good-looking, relatively affordable, adds no play to the driveshaft and allows for greater immersion in the race.

However, its unique compatibility with ClubSport DD and DD+ will limit its adoption by Fanatec fans. It’s an atypical approach, I must say, especially coming from this brand. It’s possible that Fanatec wants to establish a new ecosystem, revolving around the QR2 Type-F. Only time will tell. What’s certain is that if you have a ClubSport DD or DD+, the shaft will be an excellent addition to your setup.