Fanatec has been a leader in the sim-racing market for many years, over 20 to be precise. The German brand is present in 3 different segments: entry-level, mid-range and high-end. This diversification makes the manufacturer more attractive to the sim-racing public, especially experienced pilots.

Naturally, Fanatec also offers bundles comprising Direct Drive bases, flywheels and/or cranksets, with price brackets to suit racers. The aim is to offer turnkey solutions, including sim-racing rigs, ready for direct use by customers.

Among the bundles offered by Fanatec, we have the Forza Motorsport V2, which is an entry-level bundle with a ClubSport series steering wheel, while being officially licensed by the Xbox racing game saga. In what follows, we’ll take a closer look at this bundle, with its base, steering wheel and pedals.

Main and technical features of the bundle

• Complete package with CSL DD base, Forza Motorsport-specific steering wheel and CSL Pedals
• Direct Drive base with 5 nm maximum torque, but upgradeable with a boost kit to 8 nm (sold separately).
• ClubSport steering wheel with 33 cm diameter, flat bottom and premium leather finish
• ClubSport Universal Hub for Xbox with small screen and controls distributed along the sides of the wheel like a racing car
• Base compatible with the entire Fanatec ecosystem
• Xbox and PC compatible
• Available in QR1 or QR2 versions

Forza Bundle design

The design of this bundle is largely influenced by that of its steering wheel, the ClubSport Forza Motorosport. It features a brushed aluminum faceplate and leather all around, with white stitching.

The steering wheel has a flat bottom, giving it a more ergonomic appearance. Another addition to the design is the control hub at the rear of the wheel, with buttons scattered all around the faceplate. This gives it a very racing car look, especially with the Xbox button at the bottom left.

As for the bundle’s pedalboard, this is the CSL Pedals with a very minimalist design, I’d say. There are 2 colors: silver and black, with rather simple shapes. The footplate is entirely black. It’s quite a success in absolute terms, even if the choice of color doesn’t really suit me.

Customized assembly

The CSL DD uses a side-mounting system with rails that allow it to be attached to virtually any chassis using T-nuts. What’s more, the same system is used at the bottom of the base, giving us 2 methods of chassis attachment.

You can also mount this base on furniture with Fanatec’s Table Clamp for the CSL range. This clamp is sturdy and won’t bend on a table or desk.

As far as the CSL Pedals are concerned, the one in the bundle is not a Load Cell version, and the rubber pads on the underside are more than enough to hold the pedalboard in place on parquet or any other floor. But if you’ve got a chassis or a steering-wheel support, the CSL Pedals have mounting points to be placed on such a product.

Manufacturing and finishing

As for the steering wheel, it’s aluminum for the structure and real leather all around. At first glance, it looks like leatherette, but believe me, it’s real leather. It’s just a material not often found in the automotive world. The finish of the steering wheel is perfect, and the premium look is accentuated by the white stitching.

The pedalboard is also very well made, and superbly well assembled. However, this assembly operation is your responsibility, as the CSL Pedals is delivered completely disassembled. It’s not complicated to do, and the manual is detailed. You’ll be able to do a bit of DIY on a Sunday afternoon.

As for the CSL DD, the entire structure is made of metal, giving it solidity and, above all, passive heat dissipation. Fanatec products are premium, even those in the CSL range.

Getting started with the bundle

The CSL Pedals is a standard crankset, without Load Cell. This means there’s very little resistance at the brake pedal. For beginners in sim-racing, this is not bad, and the pedal travel is linear. What’s more, you can adjust the spacing and angle of the pedals, to get the riding position that suits you best.

The ClubSport Forza Motorsport is a steering wheel with a diameter of 33 cm, ideal for sim-racing. It’s almost like being in a real car. The flat bottom adds to the wheel’s ergonomics, and the controls on the sides of the faceplate are easy to reach when racing.

The ClubSport hub has 2 good-sized paddles at the rear, and you can swap them for the Podium Advanced Paddle Module, which includes 6, for an extra €180. But the ClubSport hub’s paddles will do just fine for virtually any rider, as they’re magnetic and offer just the right amount of resistance to prevent inadvertent shifting.

Sensations during play

Let me now turn to the in-game feel of the Forza Motorsport V2 bundle. For the base, we’re talking about the 5 nm CSL DD this time, coupled with a steering wheel (with hub and QR) that’s rather heavy, I must admit. The result: if you push all the base settings to the max, you’ll inevitably get clipping.

But with moderate settings, the CSL DD provides a very good feel on the track. The 5 nm of torque are sufficient for beginners or sim-racing enthusiasts, at least in most cases. The motor is well calibrated by Fanatec, perfectly marrying light and heavy effects, within its power range of course. The basis of this bundle is excellent for titles such as Forza Horizon, Forza Motorsport, ACC or even Need For Speed (just for fun, eh).

The CSL Pedals are in the standard version, i.e. without Load Cell. The accelerator pedal is very light, and linear too, as well as being really precise in terms of input thanks to its magnetic sensor. The brake pedal is a little harder than the gas pedal, but just as linear and precise. Once again, the Forza Motorsport V2 bundle is aimed at a beginner or even amateur sim-racing audience.

Forza Motorsport bundle compatibility

Forza Motorsport V2 is compatible with both Xbox and PC, if we refer to its platform information page. As far as sim-racing titles are concerned, the list is really long and covers everything from NFS to ACC, with Forza Motorsport of course.

Value for money

In terms of value for money, it may seem a little expensive, I must admit. Normally, the bundle costs €730, but it’s currently on special offer at €680. That’s still a pretty hefty price for a 5nm Direct Drive base and a pedalboard without Load Cell. However, the ClubSport steering wheel with official Forza license and the ClubSport Hub make up for it.

My verdict on Fanatec’s Forza Motorsport V2 Bundle

What I think of Forza Motorsport V2: if you want to get started in sim-racing with a complete bundle, including all the peripherals you need to race on Xbox or PC, and you have the means to back up this choice, then yes, these products from Fanatec are worth considering. What’s more, the German brand’s ecosystem is so vast that you’ll easily be able to upgrade your setup in no time with, for example, the Base boost kit, which will boost its power to 8nm, or the CSL Pedals Load Cell kit.

On the other hand, if you’re already experienced in sim-racing and want to take your game to the next level, then the Forza Motorsport V2 bundle isn’t for you, for the same reasons that make it attractive to beginners: its base and pedalboard.