Sim-racing enthusiasts have been over the moon since Fanatec released the McLaren GT3 V2 steering wheel. It has to be said that the V1 set the bar pretty high for an officially licensed GT3 steering wheel, and the V2 is well on the way to taking its place.

Unlike other Fanatecmodels, the McLaren GT3 V2 is an entry-level steering wheel. This means that people who want realism, but don’t have a fat wallet to back them up, won’t have to spend astronomical sums to complete their setup with quality peripherals.

I tested it in 2021 when it first came out, and was lucky enough to get my hands on it again to write these lines.

Main technical specifications of the Fanatec McLaren GT3 V2 steering wheel

• Diameter: 30 cm
• Materials: plastic, aluminium and rubber
• 2 magnetic paddles
• 9 buttons, 2 rotary encoders with 12 positions, 2 switches with 2 positions, 1 click and rotary switch with 4 positions
• One-inch OLED screen
• Quick Release Fanatec QR 1 Lite
• 1.1 kg
• No vibration
• No lap count

Design

As an official GT3 licensee, the McLaren GT3 V2 is a true carbon copy of the steering wheels used in competition by the British supercar brand. The materials used are of the highest quality, with aluminum, rubber and plastic. Some might think that the wheel is made of carbon fiber, but unfortunately this is not the case, for obvious reasons.

Customized assembly

The McLaren GT3 V2 is equipped with a Quick Release system that allows it to be quickly removed from its base, just as is the case in a race car or with JDM tuning fans. Before ordering this steering wheel, I must tell you a few things about its assembly.

Since all you get with your purchase is the steering wheel, you need a base to attach it to. There’s certainly no shortage of Fanatec bases, and there’s something for everyone. Personally, I use the Fanatec CSL DD base to test the brand’s shuttlecocks. It’s an excellent quality base with a fairly decent strength of 8 nm. I’ve already posted an article on the subject, which you can read here.

Assembly, or installation, of this steering wheel is child’s play: just place the wheel on the base and turn the Quick Release to the “locked” position. That’s all there is to it.

Manufacturing and finishing

Like all Fanatec products, the McLaren GT3 V2 steering wheel is simply premium. The finish is worthy of a German luxury car steering wheel. When I first picked it up, I knew this was a top-quality steering wheel that would stand the test of time.

The paddles work magnetically, and are made of aluminum. This means that even if you go nuts on the gearshift, nothing will happen to them. That’s what I like about Fanatec : they’re not afraid to use quality materials on their product, even if it means offering a higher purchase price than the competition. They know very well that their peripherals will always find takers.

Another positive point is that the steering wheel is easy to grip thanks to its 30 cm diameter, especially if you’re a GT3 fan.

Handling the steering wheel

The McLaren GT3 V2 ‘s grip is excellent. The paddles are positioned naturally under your hands, and you won’t have to make any awkward movements to reach them. The same goes for the buttons and switches on the steering wheel: everything is designed to be in the right place. It has to be said that partnering with McLaren makes for an absolutely perfect GT3 steering wheel, whether for GT3 fans or gamers who want to use it for something else. By the way, I was able to test this steering wheel on a Formula 1 car, and it’s almost perfect. It just needs a few additions, like a lap counter.

Sensations during play

I’ll now move on to the sensations during a game of sim-racing. To put it simply, with the Quick Release supplied with McLaren GT3 V2, i.e. the QR 1 Lite, I immediately felt a play of a few degrees between turning the steering wheel and the car changing direction. For the record, this is not lag, because as soon as I changed the QR for the aluminum one, there was no more play. Fanatec currently offers two QRs in its catalog:

• One in plastic, the QR 1 Lite
• One in aluminum, the QR 1

Hardcore sim-racing fans using this wheel in stock configuration with the QR 1 Lite will be very disappointed by this, as I was. Admittedly, this problem can be solved by fitting another Fanatec Quick Release, but it still costs no less than €100. As far as I’m concerned, the manufacturer should offer two models of the McLaren GT3 V2 :

• One with the plastic QR for people who just want to have fun
• Another with aluminum QR for people who want realism without compromise, while adjusting the price of course.

I also noticed something that happened during my sessions with the QR 1 Lite: from time to time, the steering wheel lost connection with the base. As a result, even if I turned the steering wheel, nothing happened on the car. This only happened with the QR 1 Lite, which makes me doubt whether a good connection can be maintained over a long run, and how long this part will last. In my opinion, if you exert a force close to 8 nm, the Quick Release disengages just a little to cut the connection.

Compatibility

Thanks to Fanatec , the McLaren GT3 V2 is compatible with all the brand’s 8 nm bases, thanks to the Quick Release sold with it. If you have a base over 8 nm, I advise you to opt for the aluminum QR 1 to take full advantage of force feedback without damaging your device.

Platform-wise, the McLaren GT3 V2 is a Fanatec steering wheel compatible with Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Playstation 4, PS5 and PC. However, this only applies if the steering wheel is connected to a Fanatec base.

On the PC, you have access to the FanaLab software, which lets you configure the McLaren GT3 V2 ‘s buttons and switches . I found it very handy to be able to reconfigure certain buttons, and the software works very well.

If you’re on a console, don’t worry, Fanatec has thought of you. Thanks to the small screen on the steering wheel, you can map the keys to your liking.

Value for money

For just €200, you won’t find anything better on the market if you’re a fan of sim-racing, and more specifically GT3. Between the build quality, the official McLaren license and the near-perfect ergonomics of the steering wheel, this is the device for you.

The only negative point I’ve noticed, other than the Quick Release, is that the steering wheel tends to get slippery if you sweat a lot with your hands. For 30-60 minute sessions, there shouldn’t be too many problems. But if you’re using it for longer, I’d recommend wearing gloves.

My verdict

I was seduced by the McLaren GT3 V2 as soon as it came out, and I still am today. The only problem with this steering wheel is its Quick Release. I’m not in favor of a plastic QR, and the one on the McLaren GT3 V2 is one of them. It’s the part that limits this steering wheel’s performance, and you’ll have to pay almost €100 more for an aluminum QR to get the most out of it.