Sim-racing is a discipline that has grown enormously in recent years, especially with the advent of setups, or rather peripherals, on consoles. It’s true that sim-racing used to be virtually exclusive to the PC, for the simple reason that game consoles, whether from Microsoft or Sony, were closed platforms, difficult for peripheral manufacturers or developers to exploit.

To get a sim-racing setup on a console (steering wheel + pedals), you had to buy from Microsoft or Sony, or take out an official license. Some manufacturers offered this, but customers were few and far between, as there weren’t many games that could use such peripherals.

Sim-racing used to be mainly PC-based, and still is today. Of course, many sim-racing peripheral manufacturers offer console products, but you’ll have to do your homework to find compatible steering wheels, pedalboards and bases, especially if you want quality.

Like many sim-racing fans, I mainly run my sessions on PC. Over time, I’ve managed to build up a setup that suits me perfectly, with steering wheel, base, pedals, shifter and handbrake. But like many of you, the choice of peripherals was not an easy one. I had to do a lot of research and try out several products to finally get the setup right. And today, I’m going to help you choose your peripherals for a sim-racing setup, and more specifically, a steering wheel from Fanatec.

The McLaren GT3 V2

Advantages :

• Beautiful design
• Official McLaren license
• Easy to handle

Disadvantages :

• QR 1 Lite

Let’s start with a steering wheel I really like, the McLaren GT3 V2. It’s a mid-range steering wheel from Fanatecs mid-range steering wheel, but worthy of the brand’s top-of-the-range range as far as I’m concerned.

Made entirely of aluminum, except for the Quick Release, and I’ll come back to that later, this steering wheel is simply ideal for people who want to get into sim-racing on a small budget.

Its design is an official replica of the McLaren 650S GT3 steering wheel, and it shows. The wheel is 30 cm in diameter, and is easy to grip, even for beginners. Admittedly, people who are used to car steering wheels (the round ones) will be a little puzzled by the shape of the McLaren GT3 V2but just a few sim-racing sessions and it will become second nature.

This steering wheel is officially licensed by Xbox, which means it will work perfectly on both Microsoft consoles and PCs. Basically, almost all sim-racing peripherals work perfectly on PC, since this discipline began on that platform. The advantage of having a steering wheel natively compatible with Xbox is that it has all the buttons and functions of the console’s controllers.

In terms of construction, the steering wheel is aluminum, as I said earlier, as are the paddles. There are 4 paddles, including 2 analog ones. Just like on a real McLaren, the GT3 V2 ‘s paddles are bi-directional: this means you can both shift and downshift with a single paddle.

Let’s turn now to the major drawback of this steering wheel: its Quick Release. As standard, it’s fitted with the plastic QR 1 Lite, and this gives it a dead zone of a few degrees when you turn the wheel. As far as I’m concerned, this distorted immersion and the gaming experience. But don’t worry, you can remedy this by getting the aluminum QR.

All in all, the McLaren GT3 V2 is an excellent steering wheel from Fanatec that I highly recommend to sim-racing fans and beginners alike, and all for just €200.

Read my full review of the Fanatec McLaren GT3 V2.

ClubSport Steering Wheel GT Forza Motorsport V2

Advantages :

• Incredible force feedback, combining power and fluidity
• Noble building materials

Disadvantages :

• Rather high price for the bundle

If you’re looking for native PC compatibility, you can’t do better than the Fanatec ClubSport Steering Wheel GT Forza Motorsport V2. This steering wheel is officially licensed for Forza Motorsport and is compatible with both Xbox and PC.

Combining anodized aluminum and leather, this steering wheel will give you a grip worthy of a racing car. And it doesn’t stop there. With a diameter of 33 cm, the wheel is exactly the size of a Supercar steering wheel, as are the buttons. It’s worth noting that this steering wheel is actually a “kit”: you have the wheel and a hub that attaches to it behind the wheel, and on which the buttons, screen and paddles are located. It’s a bundle of sorts.

The paddles are large, like those on a GT-R, and magnetic. This ensures precision shifting and, above all, realism. Unlike the McLaren GT3 V2, the ClubSport Steering Wheel GT Forza Motorsport V2 is equipped with an aluminum Quick Release QR 1. With it, you can forget about dead zones, as well as the relatively regular disconnections I noticed during my sim-racing sessions.

Let’s talk about on-board technology, and more specifically about force feedback. The ClubSport Steering Wheel GT Forza Motorsport V2 incorporates Fanatec ‘s Dual Hall technology, which offers two sensors on the steering wheel: one mounted on the motor and another on the axle. This provides better force feedback, combining both power and smoothness when you need it.

In terms of price, we’re no longer in the same range as the McLaren GT3 V2 . To buy this little gem, you’ll need to spend no less than €500, excluding special offers. But fortunately for us, this steering wheel is often priced at €399.95. That’s still a pretty hefty price, especially as you only get the steering wheel and hub in the bundle, but the quality is there and you won’t be disappointed with your purchase. This is a steering wheel I highly recommend for sim-racing fans. It’s just excellent in every way.

Podium Steering Wheel R300

Advantages :

• Built with real carbon fiber
• Hub with buttons and paddles
• High-quality QR

Disadvantages :

• A premium price

A step above GT Forza Motorsport V2, the Podium Steering Wheel R300 marks the debut of Fanatec‘s top-of-the-range Podium peripherals. Let me tell you in advance: this range is premium, even ultra-premium, in terms of materials, quality, functionality and price.

As soon as you pick up the Podium Steering Wheel R300, you immediately know that this is an exceptional steering wheel, in every way. The wheel is 30 cm in diameter, with a flat bottom, just like a supercar. And just like those luxury cars, the material used is carbon fiber, offering both strength and durability. It’s certainly not a steering wheel you’ll be changing in a few years’ time.

The Podium Steering Wheel R300 is sold as a bundle, with steering wheel, knob and paddle hub and QR. Everything comes together to form this excellent steering wheel. Incidentally, you have the option of using this device with the wheel alone, if you wish. The button hub comprises 13 buttons, with 6 paddles behind. You can’t really see them on the pictures, as they’re arranged in such a way as to form a single paddle. And, of course, they’re magnetic for ultra-fast response.

The QR on the Podium Steering Wheel R300 is made of metal for strength and precision in the rider’s actions, unlike the QR 1 Lite which has a dead zone of a few degrees. Also, you can forget about the plastic Quick Release disconnections that occur a little too often for my liking.

This steering wheel is fully PC-compatible, as are its functions. All the steering wheel buttons are configurable, and the small screen mounted above the base gives you detailed information on your car, such as gear engaged, speed, etc. As far as I’m concerned, the Podium Steering Wheel R300 is an excellent steering wheel, both very premium and very versatile, suitable for people who enjoy sim-racing, whether in F1, GT, Drift, etc. racing games.

Obviously, carbon fiber, leather, metal QR, etc. all come at a price. This steering wheel costs €559.80 on the Fanatec website . Incidentally, you can only buy the brand’s products on its website. But you can save a little on this steering wheel, as the manufacturer often puts it on special offer, for €59.85 less.

The Clubsport Racing Wheel F1

Advantages :

• Very high-end from Fanatec
• F1 steering wheel
• Direct Drive technology

Disadvantages :

• Very high price
• Difficult to learn for beginners

Now it’s time for the best steering wheel Fanatec has to offer, the Clubsport Racing Wheel F1.

This steering wheel is extremely well-built, of very high quality and much appreciated in the sim-racing community. It has to be said that this device is simply perfect, at least as far as I’m concerned. Beginners to sim-racing will be baffled by the shape of the wheel, but for fans of the discipline, it’s a perfect fit.

Technology-wise, you’re in for a treat. The steering wheel features Direct Drive force feedback. This means that steering wheel rotation can be both powerful and precise, something that is rare with the competition. As for the buttons, there are several of them, and they can all be configured using the OLED screen or Fanatec’s FanaLab software. In all, there are 11 buttons, 2 toggle switches, 2 switches and 1 analog joystick. And frankly, that’s more than enough.

The Clubsport Racing Wheel F1 uses blue forged carbon for its structure. This ensures strength and lightness, as well as giving the impression of using a device straight out of Formula 1. In fact, this wheel is officially licensed by F1.

The only downsides to this piece of goldsmithery are its price and the fact that it’s difficult for beginners to get the hang of. If you’re new to sim-racing, you’ll need some time to get used to using this steering wheel. As for price, this bundle (steering wheel + base) costs €1,300.

Which one to choose?

At Fanatec, the choice of a steering wheel is based on several criteria:

• The base and its force feedback. This is the element that will enable you to attach the steering wheel and feel the sensations. Some bases are compatible with certain platforms(PC, Xbox, PS4/PS5), and the same goes for steering wheels. Force feedback is expressed in nm.
• Compatibility. Almost all Fanatec steering wheels are compatible on PC. The problem arises mainly on consoles, where this or that peripheral is not supported.
• The price. Fanatec is a premium brand, just like its products. A sim-racing setup consists of a steering wheel, base and pedals, with a shifter and handbrake for hardcore fans. If you start shopping at Fanatec, the bill will be high. The best thing to do is buy the peripherals as a bundle, with big discounts.

The bottom line is that sim-racing is a passion that few people understand. Everyone will have their own preferences, whether in terms of steering wheel, base or pedals. The Fanatec range is wide and caters for all budgets. The best thing is to buy according to your budget and your intentions regarding sim-racing. There’s no point in buying top-of-the-range if you’re only going to spend 1 hour a week on it.