Since its beginnings in the 90s, sim-racing has come a long way to become what it is today: a highly popular discipline with many global players.

I remember the first Thrustmaster or Logitech steering wheels, which were really basic compared with the best on the market today. But that was the technology of the time, and there wasn’t much the manufacturers could do about it. Now we’ve got Direct Drive motors, swappable wheels and the whole shebang to enjoy on our setups.

Of course, a popular discipline also means a specialized peripheral, such as the Thrustmaster TS PC Racer. This steering wheel is one of the French manufacturer’s top-of-the-range products, and in what follows, I’m going to introduce it to you. I’ll tell you about its features, its strengths and weaknesses, and give you my opinion on it.

Main and technical features of the steering wheel

• 40-watt brushless motor
• Wheel change system
• Magnetic sensor on steering wheel
• Rotation angle from 270° to 1080
• Powerful base cooling system
• External turbo power supply
• 32 cm diameter Ferrari-licensed swappable wheel

Thrustmaster TS PC Racer design

The Thrustmaster brand is well known for its beautiful products, and the TS PC Racer is one of them. Its overall design is reminiscent of a Ferrari, and that’s to be expected given that it’s officially licensed.

The wheel is rather minimalist, with its aluminum and alcantara structure all around, as well as the gold band at the top. It’s beautiful and, above all, sober. The Ferrari prancing horse emblem is in the center of the wheel, and the buttons and switches are placed in a sort of hub at the rear. This is what Fanatec does with its Podium range, and I think it’s a success.

As for the base, it’s made of black plastic. It’s minimalist, with only the brand logo on the sides, and slots for ventilation of the motor and its components. On the whole, it remains sober and in line with what Thrustmaster is currently doing.

Customized assembly

The Thrustmaster TS PC Racer is mounted, as with most of the manufacturer’s products, using a clamp that fits underneath the base. This mounting method is renowned for being both solid and very easy to use, enabling rapid assembly on a desk or table. As far as cockpits are concerned, there are slots for screws (M6) underneath, enabling attachment to popular chassis, such as those of Playseat for example.

The Thrustmaster TS PC Racer has a system that allows you to swap the wheel on the steering wheel to fit one for F1, for example. Although this system is relatively easy to use, you have to take out the screwdriver each time to attach the wheel to the base. It’s a real hassle, and not at all user-friendly, given that the whole system is made of plastic and will certainly be a problem in terms of longevity. I would have preferred a QR worthy of the name, especially at the price at which this wheel is sold.

Manufacturing and finishing

Where the Thrustmaster TS PC Racer makes up for this is in its finish. Given that this is the brand’s first high-end steering wheel, the finish and build quality are superb.

The metal of the wheel is very smooth to the touch, and the alcantara is extra as well. I’ve heard that this material is sensitive to moisture, which can compromise it over time. I’ve yet to see this on a sim-racing wheel, but I’ve seen it on cars. So…

The base is also very well finished, with parts that fit together very well. Once again, the surface is smooth, preventing any wounds or cuts when you run your hands over it. We’ve become accustomed to this level of finish on Thrustmaster products, and the TS PC Racer is no exception.

As for the paddles, they’re made of aluminum and are a good size, I must say. As the wheel is swappable, the paddles are attached to it and will therefore rotate with it. In absolute terms, this is not a negative point, but some sim-racers will find it annoying. As for the click when in use, this is powerful, clearly indicating that the gear has been engaged.

Handling the steering wheel

As with many Thrustmaster steering wheels, the TS PC Racer ‘s grip is excellent, as is its ergonomics. The wheel is large (32 cm diameter), giving you a feeling of space and greater freedom of movement.

Alcantara provides excellent grip, preventing your hands from slipping. The main buttons are easy to reach without taking your hands off the wheel. However, for the switches, you have to take your hands off the wheel to activate them, as they are almost in the center of the wheel.

Another positive point is that the wheel is screwed to the base. Well, it’s a mixed point, since it’s good for eliminating play in the center, but not great for swapping the wheel quickly.

As far as the paddles are concerned, as I said earlier, they’re big and click superbly. Using them to shift gears will greatly enhance the realism of your sim-racing sessions.

Sensations during play

If you’re looking for realism and immersion, you’ve come to the right place. The Thrustmaster TS PC Racer is the perfect steering wheel to transport you into the cockpit of an F1 car during a race in Monaco.

This steering wheel is simply engaging, responsive and extremely precise in its use. Even though the motor is brushless, a sim-racing enthusiast wouldn’t know the difference between it and a Direct Drive at first glance.

Steering is precise, immersive and, above all, responsive. As soon as you turn the wheel a degree, the car immediately changes direction, showing just how little play there is in the motor mechanism. It’s breathtaking for such technology, and my hat’s off to Thrustmaster.

As I said above, in the space of a few moments, you’re teleported into a racing car, especially if you have a setup with a cockpit and curved screen. And since the grip on the Thrustmaster TS PC Racer is superb, you’ll feel even more immersed in sim-racing.

However, I have to confess that one thing bothered me during my sessions, and that’s the base cooling system. It’s downright noisy, and kicks in as soon as you put a little strain on the motor. After investigation, it turns out that the base includes 2 small fans, and these must therefore run at high speeds to compensate for their size. I would have preferred a large fan running at low speed with the same volume of air released, and it does exist!

Thrustmaster TS PC Racer compatibility

As its name suggests, the Thrustmaster TS PC Racer is only compatible with the PC platform. For fans of sim-racing, and especially the pros of the discipline, it’s perfectly normal to have such compatibility, as only PCs can push FPS to its limit on Asseto Corsa or Project Cars, for example. As a result, this steering wheel is aimed solely at this audience.

As far as titles are concerned, the Thrustmaster TS PC Racer will work perfectly on virtually all sim-racing titles currently available on the market. So no worries there.

Value for money

Listed at €599.99 on the manufacturer’s website, the Thrustmaster TS PC Racer is still an excellent choice for this price, rivalling the Fanatec CSL DD Gran Turismo. Fanatec CSL DD Gran Turismo (which I also tested here) on its own turf, even if Thrustmaster ‘s steering wheel isn’t Direct Drive.

What’s more, you have the option of swapping the wheel to install one of what I think is a pretty comprehensive catalog, making the Thrustmaster TS PC Racer excellent value for money. The only point to bear in mind is that this wheel is often cheaper on sites like Amazon.

My verdict on Thrustmaster’s TS PC Racer

As a fan of Thrustmaster products, I have no hesitation in recommending the TS PC Racer to all sim racers looking for a high-end, powerful and, above all, immersive steering wheel.

It has to be said that the brand has truly mastered belt-driven Burhsless motor technology, and the TS PC Racer is proof of this. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a must-have if you’re into the Thrustmaster ecosystem, especially for this price. If you’re interested, I’ve also written an article on the 6 Best PC Steering Wheels for Sim Racing in 2025which I invite you to discover.