It goes without saying that all these motorsport disciplines have their strengths and weaknesses, as do the setups that go with them. For example, a set-up for rally racing will be basically the same as one for GT3 racing, but will include discipline-specific peripherals such as a handbrake and shifter.

This also applies to other sim-racing peripherals, such as steering wheels. Each discipline will have more or less a specific wheel, whose form and function differ from those of the others. Don’t get me wrong; the wheel will always remain identical in its basic version, but there will still be differences in functionality.

Speaking of different wheels, Fanatec offers over twenty in its sim-racing catalog. Among them is the Porsche 911 GT3, an official replica of a steering wheel from the legendary German supercar brand. In what follows, we’ll take a closer look at this device and give you my opinion on it.

Main and technical characteristics of the wheel

• Flat-bottom steering wheel in leather or alcantara
• Official Porsche wheel replica
• 32 cm diameter with premium materials
• Available as stand-alone wheel, with button hub and endurance module
• Compatible with Xbox, Playstation and PC (depending on configuration)

Porshe 911 design

I’m not going to mince words when describing the design of the Fanatec Porsche 911 steering wheel: it’s sublime, down to the smallest detail. From the Porsche logo in the center, to the alcantara and leather trim, to the anodized aluminum frame, it’s simply magnificent.

The wheel is very minimalist if you take it on its own, with a flat bottom and very premium materials for its construction. If you add the endurance module and button hub, it turns the wheel into something straight out of the cockpit of a Porsche 911 GT3 R. It’s still flashy, but not too flashy, as all the controls on the endurance module are race-typical, and that gives it character.

Customized assembly

The Porsche 911 steering wheel is mounted either via the universal hub from the Podium range, which includes the metal QR1, or via a button hub from Fanatec. In either case, this steering wheel attaches to a Fanatec base via the QR1 or QR2, depending on your base and your choices too.

The operation is very easy to carry out, as is the case with virtually all Fanatec flywheels: you pull on a kind of ring on the Quick Release, align the flywheel paying close attention to the connecting pins, gently insert the flywheel and release the ring. Simple, isn’t it? Just be careful with the pins, as you’re very likely to bend them if you go in blind.

Manufacturing and finishing

The Porsche 911 is made from anodized aluminum, with leather or alcantara around the steering wheel. It’s very premium, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that this steering wheel was literally taken off a Porsche and put up for sale on the Fanatec website.

The stitching is the same color as the material used, and there’s a red or yellow band at the top of the steering wheel. It’s all very nice, I must say, and the quality is spot on. As for the endurance module and button hub, the build quality is also very good, especially for the endurance module and its carbon-fiber paddles at the rear.

Overall, this steering wheel is superbly well made, with attention to detail in every respect.

Handling the wheel

First of all, the Porsche 911 has a flat bottom, with a diameter of 32 cm. That’s a little bigger than on the cars we see every day, and I’m not sure about Porsches because I haven’t yet had the privilege of setting foot in one.

Nonetheless, Fanatec’s steering wheel is superbly grippy at least, whether in leather or alcantara version, and you won’t need to use gloves at all if you intend to do long sim-racing sessions with it. Of course, alcantara is known to be a rather fragile material, especially if you have sweaty hands, and I’d strongly advise you to opt for the leather version if that’s your case. What’s more, you can configure both steering wheels in the same way, with everything from modules to hubs.

In terms of weight, the Porsche 911 on its own weighs less than a kilo (825g to be precise), and if you take it as a full option, it’s going to titillate the 2.2kg mark on the scale. Fortunately for us, Fanatec has equipped this steering wheel with the standard metal QR1, which shouldn’t pose any weight problems on the base driveshaft.

Sensations during play

First and foremost, the Fanatec Porsche 911 is not a steering wheel to be coupled with a CSL DD 5 or 8 nm. It’s a premium wheel to be used with a premium base, or at least a ClubSport DD. Well, it’s true that in its “naked” version, the Porsche 911 can be put on a CSL DD because it doesn’t even weigh 900g, but otherwise the full-option wheel is too heavy for Fanatec’s low-power bases.

For in-game sensations, it’s pure bliss. The ergonomics of the endurance module are simply excellent, with lots of superbly positioned buttons, a large display showing essential data and 2 or 6 paddles on the rear depending on your configuration for launch control and the rest.

The steering wheel alone is very light, and you’ll hardly feel its weight in your hand. But in full-option configuration with the endurance module and button hub, plus the QR, the weight will quickly climb to over 2 kg, which is why you need to pair the Porsche 911 with a powerful base.

In your hands, this wheel is solid, thanks to an anodized aluminum structure that doesn’t allow any movement or bending. What’s more, with the QR1 Podium Hub, the connection between the wheel and the base is one of Fanatec’s strongest. The Porsche 911 is a superb steering wheel for fans of endurance racing, where it will clearly demonstrate its strengths.

Porsche 911 GT3 R compatibility

Fanatec’s bases are fully compatible with this steering wheel, from the CSL DD to the Podium DD, not forgetting the ClubSport DD if you have the new QR2.

As for platforms, there are 3 versions of this steering wheel:

• A simple wheel, with nothing at all attached to it
• One wheel with endurance module, 6 paddles and Podium Hub for PC and Playstation
• A wheel with endurance module and ClubSport hub for PC, Xbox and Playstation.

However, each wheel will be dependent on the base on which it is installed, as will the sim-racing titles, as not all of them support endurance-specific controls.

Value for money

So, the Porsche 911 has 3 different prices: €150 for the single wheel, €550 for the Xbox/PC/Playstation wheel, and €580 for the PC/Playstation wheel. It’s still expensive, of course, but it’s still an excellent wheel whose value for money is just unbeatable as far as I’m concerned.

My verdict on Fanatec’s Porsche 911 GT3 R

The Fanatec Porsche 911 is quite simply one of the finest steering wheels offered by the German manufacturer of sim-racing peripherals for racers looking for a wheel to do more or less everything with. The build quality is more than premium in every respect, and the degree of immersion you get with it comes dangerously close to reality.

Even if Fanatec’s asking price is hard to beat (€580 full option), it’s still a superb wheel to have on your setup. If you can afford it, buy it outright. If not, I recommend you buy the wheel on its own, then add the modules afterwards.